Sudan’s al-Bashir vows to form consensus government

By Mohammed Amin

KHARTOUM

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has vowed to implement recommendations made in the context of his "national dialogue" initiative that wrapped up on Monday, including formation of a consensus government.

To this end, he declared, his government would soon begin consultations with those opposition parties that took part in the landmark initiative.

Al-Bashir stressed his commitment to a "national document" -- approved by all participant parties -- which includes calls to end the country’s longstanding conflicts, better guarantee civil liberties and alleviate poverty.

The president also used the occasion to announce the extension of a ceasefire with Sudanese rebel groups until the end of the year.

Addressing the dialogue’s closing session on Monday, al-Bashir also urged those rebel movements and opposition groups that had boycotted the dialogue to join the initiative.

He also announced plans to establish a "national mechanism" -- to include representatives of the country’s various political parties -- tasked with drawing up a new constitution.

"We have confirmed our full commitment to the implementation of [recommendations proposed in] the national document," he asserted.

"From this moment on, [Sudan’s] political disputes will not be resolved through violent means," he said.

"We will begin intensive consultations with all the parties that took part in the dialogue with a view to implementing proposals laid out in the document," al-Bashir declared.

"And we will establish a national mechanism to set a permanent national charter," he said.

He added: "We urge [those parties who have not taken part in the initiative] not to miss this historical opportunity to join the [political] process."

The closing session of the national dialogue was attended by a host of high-level regional leaders, including Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Abul-Gheit; Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, president of Mauritania and former African Union chairman; Chadian President Idriss Deby; Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni; and Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi.

Al-Bashir launched the national dialogue in early 2014. The initiative has been boycotted, however, by a number rebel leaders and main opposition parties, including Sudan’s National Umma Party.