Sudan: Current situation and status of the Umma Party since leaving the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and joining Bashir's government (1999-2002)

While various articles reported that the Umma Party has "reconciled" with Sudanese president Omar Hassan al-Beshir (AP 18 Mar. 2000; ibid. 25 Apr. 2000) by signing an agreement in November 1999 (AP 18 Mar. 2000; Middle East Times 7 Apr. 2000; Africa Research Bulletin 25 Jan. 2001, 14223C; AFP 16 Feb. 2001; Political Parties of the World 2002, 441), no mention of the Umma Party joining al-Beshir's government could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. Umma Party leader Sadeq al-Mahdi continued to be referred to as an "opposition leader" (AFP 24 Feb. 2001; ibid. 3 Mar. 2001; MENA 10 Jan. 2002). The agreement with the government, which was rejected by other members of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) (Keesing's Record of World Events Mar. 2000; Political Parties of the World 2002, 441), was also opposed by some within the Umma Party, who challenged attempts by secretary general Omar Nur al-Dayem and al-Mahdi's cousin Mubarak al-Fadil al-Mahdi to reach a "full agreement" (Africa Confidential 13 Oct. 2000, 2).

On 15 February 2001 al-Beshir reportedly proposed that the Umma Party join the government of the ruling National Congress (AFP 16 Feb. 2001); however, on 24 February 2001, Agence France Presse reported that Sadeq al-Mahdi, who had been "in negotiations with Beshir's government," would continue talks with all parties in Sudan, and on 3 March 2001 the news agency reported that the Sudan Appeal submitted in Cairo by Sadeq al-Mahdi and Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Mohamed Osman al-Miraghani, who also heads the NDA, was a "step towards rapprochement between the Umma Party and the NDA coalition" which could end the "alleged dispute" between the Umma Party and the DUP.

A representative for Sadeq al-Mahdi reportedly signed an agreement with the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) in February 2002, maintaining that the government "did not appear to be moving fast enough" to implement reforms that would restore democracy to Sudan (Middle East International 5 Apr. 2002). Al-Mahdi described this agreement as a "bid to bring about peace in Sudan," and stated that the Umma Party would "end dialogue with the government" if it failed to demonstrate its willingness to restore democracy (Khartoum Monitor 10 Mar. 2002).

Although Sadeq al-Mahdi has rejected offers of power-sharing with al-Beshir's government, a faction of the Umma Party led by Mubarak al-Fadil al-Mahdi is reportedly in favour of joining the government, and observers are said to expect Mubarak al-Mahdi to split from the mainstream Umma Party to do so (AFP 14 May 2002).

A 3 June 2002 Khartoum Monitor article reported that the Umma Party suspended its dialogue with "all the political groups in Sudan including the ruling National Congress." According to party spokesperson Sara Nugudallah, the suspension was to allow the Umma Party to review its activities and internal arrangements (ibid.). While party leader Sadeq al-Mahdi reportedly remained in favour of talks with the government, another member stated that the party would not participate in "any totalitarian government including the current government" (ibid.).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Africa Confidential [London]. 13 October 2000. Vol. 41, No. 20. "Sudan: No Room at the Security Council."

Africa Research Bulletin: Political, Social and Cultural Series [Oxford]. 25 January 2001. Vol. 37, No. 12. "Sudan Under President Omar al-Bashir."

Agence France Presse (AFP). 14 May 2002. "Sudan: President al Beshir Rules Out Reconciliation With Opponent Turabi." (FBIS-AFR-2002-0514 15 May 2002/WNC)

_____. 3 March 2002. "Sudan's Beshir Sees Opposition Peace Appeal As Positive." (NEXIS)

_____. 24 February 2001. "Sudan Denies Moving Turabi Outside Khartoum." (NEXIS)

_____. 16 February 2001. "Sudan's Opposition Umma Party Says There Is "Common Language" With Beshir." (NEXIS)

Associated Press (AP). 25 April 2000. Mohamed Osman. "Two Major Sudanese Parties Reject Elections." (NEXIS)

_____. 18 March 2000. Chege Mbitiru. "Sudan's Opposition Coalition Welcomes Umma Party's Withdrawal." (NEXIS)

Keesing's Record of World Events. March 2000. "Sudan." [Accessed 4 June 2002]

Khartoum Monitor. 3 June 2002. Howeida Saleem. "Umma Party Suspends Dialogue With Other Political Parties." [Accessed 3 June 2002]

_____. 10 March 2002. "Opposition Ummah Party Leader Comments on Agreement With Rebels." [Accesed 3 June 2002]

MENA News Agency [Cairo, in English]. 10 January 2002. "Egypt: FM Maher Meets Somali, Eritrean Leaders at Sidelines of Khartoum Summit." (FBIS-NES-2002-0109 11 Jan. 2002/WNC)

Middle East International [London]. 5 April 2002. No. 672, pp. 22-23. Abdel Wahab Effendi. "Sudan: SPLA Gains." (NEXIS)

Middle East Times [Cairo]. 7 April 2000. Alfred Taban. "Umma Walks Back Into Headquarters." (NEXIS)

Political Parties of the World. 2002. "Sudan." 5th Edition. Edited by Alan J. Day. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale Group.

Additional Sources Consulted

Africa South of the Sahara 2000.

Amnesty International Report 2002.

Europa World Year Book 2001.

IND Country Assessments 2002.

IRB Databases

NEXIS

Project Ploughshares Armed Conflict Report 2001.

US Department of State. Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2001.

WNC

Internet sites including:

All Africa

Amnesty International

ArabicNews.com

Danish Immigration Service

Human Rights Watch

Sudan News Agency

Sudan.Net