The Opposition…Missing National Role

The opposition leaders were unanimous on the need for unifying national rank as the country is going through various exceptional circumstance and economic hardship. They called for cooperation and consultation with the ruling party to overcome this stage, where the country needs all of its sons, especially after lifting subsidy on fuels and adopting austerity measures affecting the state’s executive and legislative bodies.
Observers attribute the current economic crisis to South Sudan’s refusal to export its oil via Sudan’s pipelines, which the government heavily is relying on in its budget, thus necessitates huge amendments to the country’s general budget, which prompted the government and the Parliament to approve lifting the subsidy on fuels – despite objection by some members, who hold a different view of overcoming the crisis. The latest decisions have resulted in increasing prices. However, many economists were of the view that lifting of subsidy on fuels was inevitably necessary, affirming that the decision to slim down the government’s ministerial  and constitutionals structure was necessary for alleviating the crisis and solving permanently. They called for increasing production in all fields, caring about agriculture, opening various factories and taping the value added tax (VAT).

Search for solutions

Many sectors have begun to look for solutions to get out of the mess. The committee on agricultural, animal affairs at the Parliament held a workshop titled “the role of productive sectors in supporting public mobilization program” attended by a number of economists. Engineer Abdel-Wahab Osman, the Minister of Industry, said that work between executive and legislative bodies is an integrated work. He called on citizens for necessity for mobilization to transcend current economic consequence and make up for the loss ensuing from South Sudan’s secession by increasing production if the country is to get out of current situation, considering the country abounds in huge agricultural, animal and mineral potentials.
 
Peaceful conference on the country’s issues

Fadallah Burma, the deputy chairman of National Umma Party, has called on Sudanese political parties to discharge their duties toward the country. “The Umma party has always presented national initiatives for national unity,” he said, demanding the political parties lay their national role at this very time because the country cannot tolerate further divisions under current circumstances. Burma added that his party is of the view of holding a national conference to debate political, economic and social issues involving all parties, including the ruling National Congress Party (NCP). “It is time for working for the sake of the country and no room for disagreement or adopting personal issues because the country is the land for all,” the Umma official demanded.

National principles

For his part, Ahmed Fadul, member of Liberation and Justice Party, said that freedom of expression is right guaranteed in the Constitution for every citizen, but that does not necessarily mean that a citizen should capitalize on that right to break the laws. He affirmed that protecting public facilities is responsibility of every Sudanese citizen loving their land. Fadul asked the opposition to contribute to unifying the national rank and support the government to transcend the present situation, arguing that NCP is not directly responsible for what is happening in the country, a reference to negative consequences of South Sudan secession on Sudan’s economy. The member of Liberation and Justice Party further stressed that national unity is crucial for present delicate time.

No time for negotiations

The opposition made a big mistake in collaborating with and helping South Sudan as well as Sudan People’s Liberation Movement came to be known as (SPLM-N), said Maki Al-Maghrabi, a political analyst.
He argued that SPLM-N represented the mother Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) and there is no difference between the two bodies. Mr. Al-Maghrabi demanded parties sever contacts with those parties hostile to Sudan because they don’t want the country’s interest but mainly target the country, its security and safety of its territories. He also called on the political parties to unite and help the government to overcome the conditions the country is going through, adding that efforts should be concerted to work and unity in lieu of unfruitful divisions, negatively affecting national interests.