Nafie admits divisions within Sudan's ruling party over Bashir's candidacy
for president
14 October 2014
October 14, 2014 (KHARTOUM) - - Former presidential aide Nafie Ali Nafie
confessed the existence of hidden struggle within the National Congress
Party (NCP) over the candidature of president Omer al-Bashir for 2015
election.
Speaking to Alray Alam daily newspaper on Monday, Nafie said that Bashir
nomination for the presidential election was "a real issue" ahead of the NCP
general convention which should be held on 23 October.
Nafie revealed the existence of semi-structured groups within the party over
this matter, saying some sought to nominate a candidate other than the
incumbent president while others wanted to re-nominate Bashir and "these are
the vast majority" he stressed.
The former presidential assistant who was clearly taking sides with Bashir,
went further to say that those who wanted an alternative candidate were
divided and "failed to agree on one particular candidate".
President Bashir who leads the country since 1989 asserted several times he
would not run for a new term, pointing to the need to renew the country's
leadership.
However in a speech delivered at the NCP's Shura (Consultative) National
Council on 21 June 2013, he left the door open saying that the issue of his
candidacy will be determined by the party's national convention and the
Shura Council.
Several NCP leading members recently informed western diplomats that Bashir
would not run for president in 2015 claiming their commitment to engage in
democratic reforms and to ensure political stability in Sudan.
Nafie statements are seen as the Kick-off of a public campaign for Bashir
re-nomination ahead of the NCP convention within ten days.
Last August the ruling party announced that the selection of the party's
candidate for the presidency is done by the NCP Leadership Council which in
turn selects five people and then refers it to the Shura Council which
chooses and ranks three of the five in terms of preference.
Afterwards only one name is picked and tabled at the General Convention to
endorse.
In the event that the General Convention approves that person, he becomes
the chair of the General Convention and a candidate for the presidency. If
there is no consensus on that person then the other two names will be
presented while keeping the same ranking to pick from.
Nafei said those who sought to support another candidate now have renounced
such idea as they realised that their project would fail.
He stressed he does not want to frighten people that failure to re-nominate
President Bashir will cause divisions, adding there are those who say that.
Also, he was keen to close the door for NCP leaders who were part in the
government to be the party's nominee for president.
"I believe that thinking to nominate leaders who (were part of the
government) is a defeat of the cause of reforms that we have started," he
said.
In December 2013, Bashir conducted a cabinet reshuffle and removed several
long-time NCP figures from their governmental posts including first
vice-president Ali Osman Taha, presidential assistant and NCP vice-chairman
Nafie Ali Nafie.