The Sudanese Minister of Information Ahmed Bilal Osman says they haven’t received an invitation with regards to their participation in a preparatory meeting in Addis Ababa.

Earlier this week, The African Union High Implementation Panel (AUHIP) in Addis Ababa invited the Sudanese government and opposition parties for a Sunday preparatory meeting regarding the National Dialogue.

The meeting would allow the parties to participate in “consultations on the process and procedural matters related to the National Dialogue," but in an interview with Radio Tamazuj yesterday Minister Bilal denied all the invitations were received.

“The invitation was extended to the NCP party alone without including its political allies. I think the ruling party alone will not go for this protracted negotiations,” he said, adding that the letter didn't clarify who is going to meet and who is going to negotiate.

Bilal said the National Dialogue committee known as "7+7" has been working on the roadmap for an inclusive national dialogue in Sudan. The invitation was supposed to be extended to this mechanism, according to Bilal.

Bilal, who is also member of the National Dialogue committee known as "7 + 7”,  confirmed their readiness for the negotiations on the procedural matters with regards to the National Dialogue if they were invited by the AU mediators.

“We previously told the head of the AUHIP that we are ready to go for the meeting in Addis Ababa, but we only need the invitation as  "7+7" mechanism not one political entity,” he explained.

Bilal, who is also the government spokesman, disclosed that they presented a petition to African Union condemning what he termed “exclusion from the meeting."

The official said he expected the AU mediators to reply to their complaint in the coming days. 

Election plan

Separately, Bilal complained about lack of time for the preparatory meeting on Sunday in Addis Ababa. He added the meeting was called while they are busy with the April elections.

Bilal said the demand by opposition parties to postpone the elections is unacceptable. He further said the government will not allow a constitutional vacuum by 15 April.

However, the official confirmed his government’s readiness for an inclusive national dialogue.

Bilal pointed out that any agreement reached with the opposition parties during the national dialogue will lead to the formation of a transitional government of national unity.

The Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) and the National Umma party (NUP) accepted to attend the preparatory meeting only if the elections will not go ahead.

“I am asking all the opposition, why is the election should be postponed and what are the reasons?” Bilal asked. “The condition set by the opposition is violating the constitution because the government will be in power without being mandated from the people after 15 April. I think the election will not affect the dialogue."

About 44 political parties are now ready to participate in the upcoming elections, according to the Bilal.

“The talks by opposition that the elections will be monitored properly and that it is just a cheating are not responsible statements” he said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chairman of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) Ibrahim Ghandour, speaking Thursday to Al Jezira sons living in Kahrtoum, stressed that the elections scheduled to take place in April will not be postponed because it is the only way to ensure the government's legitimacy.

Ghandour, who also the presidential assistant, said the ruling party and the government have already decided to go ahead with the elections as a constitutional right.

He said there were many attempts by both government opponents as well as the international community to either postpone or cancel the elections.

The leading NCP member also pointed out that they are now competing with about 44 political parties, claiming that all geographical constituencies will participate in the elections.

He criticized the opposition parties which are trying to boycott the elections.

“All political parties in the world used to call for elections on time. I haven’t ever seen an opposition party calling for the postponement of elections," he challenged.