Sudan's ruling party says ready to accept early elections

Sudan's ruling National Congress Party (NCP) on Sunday said it is ready to accept conduction of early elections, Sudanese Media Center (SMC) reported.

"There are viewpoints crystallizing by the political forces participating in the national dialogue," Hamid Mumtaz, the NCP political secretary, was quoted as saying.

He said there are two proposals by the parties participating in the national dialogue about how to implement the outcome of the conference.

"The first proposal suggests mandating the President of the Republic to form the coming government of national consensus, while the second suggests formation of the government three months after the endorsement of the final recommendations by the dialogue's general assembly," he noted.

According to Sudan's constitution, the presidential and general elections are to be held each five years, where the coming election is scheduled for April 2020.

In October 2015, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir opened the sessions of the national dialogue conference in Khartoum with the participation of a number of Sudanese political parties, civil society organizations and some Darfur armed groups.

However, major political parties and armed movements have rejected to participate in the conference, including the Revolutionary Front Alliance, which brings together the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM)/ northern sector and the major Darfur armed movements.

The conference, which is nearing its end, discussed six major issues including peace, identity, rights and freedoms, economy, external relations and governance. Endit