The Sudanese Minister of Information Ahmed Bilal Osman says the newly reshuffled government’s priority is to create a condusive atmosphere for the National Dialogue initiative.
In an interview with Radio Tamazuj on Sunday, Bilal reiterated his government’s readiness to meet with rebel movements and agree on a cessation of hostilities agreement in Blue Nile, South Kordofan and Darfur.
He further said the new cabinet includes over 23 political parties which participated in the April presidential and parliamentary elections.
He pointed out that the newly appointed state governors were not assigned to serve in the areas where they come from except two or three of them. This move will help fight tribalism, according to Bilal.
Ahmed Bilal, who is also the government spokesman, stated that President Bashir’s new government will prioritize stability, peace and national dialogue. The official affirmed that they will start approaching the relevant bodies to start an internal dialogue concurrently with the national dialogue process abroad on the Blue Nile, South Kordofan and Darfur regions.
PCP to participate in National Dialogue
For its part, the opposition Popular Congress Party (PCP) led by Hassan al-Turabi announced the resumption of the national dialogue process next week.
Kamal Omar, the party’s political secretary, said in a Saturday statement at a meeting of the PCP Shura Council in River Nile State that two separate committees are communicating with the armed movements and opposition groups that boycotted the process so that they can participate in the national dialogue.
Omar, who is also member of the National Dialogue’s high coordinating committee, stressed the need for building confidence among the parties instead of waiting for the government to provide a ‘conducive environment’ for the Dialogue as has been demanded by some opposition groups as a precondition for their involvement in the process.
“The issues of political freedoms, the release of political prisoners, the abolition of their trials and the halt of the ongoing war as well as the security of negotiators from the armed movements is the most important requirement,” he was quoted as saying.
SRF meeting in Paris
Separately, a meeting of leaders of the Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) kicked off in the French capital Paris on Saturday and it is scheduled to conclude today, Monday.
Hajjo Al Tom, the SRF head of information, said in a press statement that the meeting was discussing the current political situation and how the opposition group can develop a new strategy for the next phase.
The opposition group is also expected to participate in a hearing about the situation in Sudan at the European parliament on 9 June.