Umma Party Rejects Normalization with Israel, Threatens to Withdraw Support to Sudan’s Government

Al-Mahdi speaks at a workshop on the state of emergency on 3 April 2019 ( ST photo)

October 22, 2020 (KHARTOUM) -The leader of the National Umma Party (NUP) Sadiq al-Mahdi Thursday rejected any normalization of relations with Israel and threatened to withdraw his support to the transitional government.

Al-Mahdi’s statement came after reports that a Sudanese, American and Israeli meeting in Khartoum on Wednesday had finalized the details of a deal to normalize the relations between the two countries.

The agreement would be announced soon in the context of removing Sudan from the list of countries supporting terrorism.

Al-Mahdi said that establishing relations with Israel is similar to establishing relations with South Africa before the end of the apartheid regime.

He also said that the transitional governing institutions have no mandate to make any decision on contentious issues such as establishing relations with Israel.

"We hope that all the institutions of the transitional government abide by this position. We will withdraw our support for the institutions of the transition if they establish relations with the apartheid and occupation state," he emphasized

Furthermore, al-Mahdi called on the Bar Association to file lawsuits against the process and question those who violate Israel boycott act of 1958.

The NUM has a troubled relationship with the transitional government in Sudan and the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC).

Last April, it had frozen its activities in the FFC. In July, it rejected the appointment of the state governors.

On 31 July, Sadiq al-Mahdi the leader of the National Umma Party (NUP) called to form an alliance between the "Forces of the National Agenda" to protect Sudan from the Islamists and secular groups and called on the army to support it.

(ST)