Al-Bashir: Armed groups must participate in united Sudan

President Omar Al-Bashir says he will listen to all groups, including armed forces President Omar Al-Bashir has called on all Sudanese political groups to participate in developing a permanent constitution, in a speech marking the country’s 57th independence anniversary .
He vowed to listen to "everyone, including the armed groups and insurgents," while emphasising his commitment to establishing good relations with neighbouring South Sudan. Al-Bashir reiterated calls for broad political participation from civil society organisations.
The President welcomed armed movements and Sudanese opposition forces to participate in the constitutional process, but also vowed to clamp down on rebellion. “Soon we will celebrate a Blue Nile free from revolt,” Al-Bashir claimed, saluting Sudanese armed forces, police and security services for their efforts in combating rebels in the Blue Nile region.
President Al-Bashir reiterated Sudan’s commitment to maintain good relations with its neighbour, South Sudan, following the mutual cooperation agreement signed earlier last year in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa.
However, Deputy-Chairman of the People's Congress Party Dr Ibrahim Al-Sanusi has criticised the government, accusing it of “taking the country down a dark tunnel."
Sanusi told Arabstoday how Sudanese independence, achieved in 1956, was followed by fragile democracy. “This was the climate in which General Ibrahim Abboud, Jaafar Nimeiri and current President Omar Al-Bashir took power through a military coup,” he claimed.
“As the Sudanese celebrate the anniversary of independence we should feel that we are enjoying real independence, in which all forms of civil freedoms are respected – that includes freedom of expression.” Sanusi argued. “No one can govern Sudan alone anymore.”
Head of the National Congress Party Abdullah Ali Massar also called for democracy. “We need to create a modern state with a developing and thriving industry and trade," he said.
In an exclusive statement to Arabstoday, President of the Alliance of Sudanese Opposition Parties Farouk Abu Issa said: “Toppling the Al-Bashir regime is a goal the opposition will never dismiss.”