VOA: Sudan's largest northern opposition party has been dealt a blow by the death of its prominent secretary general, Abdul Nabi Ahmed, as it prepares for the national elections due to be held next year. For VOA, Blake Evans-Pritchard reports from Khartoum
Abdul Nabi Ahmed, who was killed in a car crash last weekend, was widely seen as a crucial force in helping the Umma Party rally support in the troubled region of Darfur, a traditional stronghold for the party in previous elections.
"There are many Darfurians in the party. All of them are competent, committed and have great support from the grassroots," he noted. "So I do not think there is a serious problem in the Umma Party because all of us our soldiers in this party. Any gap will be filled by any of the remaining members."
In March, the Umma Party threatened to boycott next year's elections, unless Darfur's voters were guaranteed an equal voice. Al-Ghali explains why.
"If you exclude Darfur then this will alienate a very important people from Sudan," he said. "How can a region be excluded from selecting the president of the country and the members of the Parliament? If you decide such important issues in the absence of the Darfurians, then you say to them 'go away' and this will lead to the secession of the region. This would be a very fatal mistake for the unity of Sudan."
It could also hinder the Umma Party from gaining a foothold in government. In the 1986 elections, the Umma Party won 34 out of the 39 constituencies in Darfur, according to Al-Ghali. This helped the party secure a big enough majority in the country to come to power. Al-Ghali is hoping for a similar success in Darfur this time round.
"During this crisis we supported our people very much and they appreciate our situation and stance for Darfur, so I am not worried about Darfur in the elections," he said.
But Al-Ghali is concerned that the persistent insecurity in the Darfur region threatens to derail the democratic process there. In April, the national census, which was carried out in April, overlooked those people in Darfur who were temporarily living in refugee camps, because of the difficulties in accessing those camps.
Some of Al-Ghali's concerns are shared by members of the Sudanese Peoples Liberation Party, the southern political party that currently shares power with the ruling National Peoples Congress.
In October, Pagan Amum, secretary general of the SPLM, held talks with Chadian President Idriss Déby to discuss ways of bringing the Darfur crisis to an end.
Sources in the party suggest that the SPLM stands to benefit from peace in the region, as Darfur rebels find solidarity with the former rebels of the south, who waged a 21-year-war against Khartoum before the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) was signed in 2005.
The elections are due to held in July next year, but some have suggested that the timetable is too tight and that they will, in fact, not be held until the end of the year.
Elections within the Umma Party will be held in January to decide who will replace Ahmed as secretary-general. Until then, Al-Ghali will assume this position.
Newer articles:
- Search for Intelligent and Prudent Strategies for South Sudan Independence - 03/12/2008 13:21
- South Needs More Help to Rebuild Education, Roads, Health Care - UN Aid Chief - 02/12/2008 17:43
- Sudan Government Orders Demolition of 10,000 Houses in Slum - 02/12/2008 17:34
- Minister Awut Deng: A New Iron Lady on a fake war on corruption - 01/12/2008 17:02
- Joseph Kony again failed to show up - 01/12/2008 10:42
Older news items
- Peace in Sudan Should not be Destroyed with Politicized ICC Justice - 27/11/2008 20:09
- Independence of South Sudan is Not an Insult to Nuba and Funj - 25/11/2008 20:44
- United in Corruption We Fall - 25/11/2008 14:56
- Jesus Christ Film in Shilluk - 24/11/2008 02:39
- Sudanese bishops concerned by peace implementation - 23/11/2008 13:12
Latest news items (all categories):
- Western Equatoria prepares for voter registration - 14/09/2026 15:11
- South Sudanese Women Reclaim Their Lives after Fistula Surgery - 14/09/2026 15:10
- Digitel Launches Voice and Social Media Bundles in South Sudan - 14/09/2026 15:07
- Nearly 100,000 displaced in Sudan’s Blue Nile state since January amid fighting: UN agency - 14/09/2026 15:03
- جنوب السودان يرفض طلبًا لـ”حميدتي” بمنحه الحصة الأكبر من عائدات النفط - 14/09/2026 14:51
Random articles (all categories):
- South Sudan: COVID-19 emergency response and health system preparedness project - 15/03/2022 03:15
- South Sudan and Japan: a tale of love and civil war - 12/11/2016 14:44
- Sudan, South mull joint oil protection force - 06/01/2014 17:47
- US envoy pushes for 'peaceful' Sudan solution - 13/06/2019 05:40
- South Africa 2 Sudan 1: Bafana seal AFCON qualification - 15/11/2014 16:32
Popular articles:
- The Final Communique of SPLM-DC Third Session of the National Council - 29/03/2011 01:00 - Read 83169 times
- Roles and Definition of Political Parties - 29/04/2011 01:00 - Read 64904 times
- Agriculture in Southern Sudan: Challenges and Investment Opportunities - 06/10/2010 01:45 - Read 57558 times
- Fashoda Youth Forum Rehabilitation of Drainage Culverts in Malakal town Report - 07/08/2008 16:22 - Read 35941 times
- Creation and establishment of the Local Government Councils ( Counties ) (2) - 28/09/2011 01:00 - Read 33784 times
