Historic photo of Sudanese opposition leaders, including Al-Turabi and Al-Mahdi, brought together by the UN

Here is 'Picture Of The Week' from Jan Pronk's Weblog June 10, 2006 showing Sudanese opposition leaders, including Al-Turabi and Al-Mahdi, brought together by the UN. Following caption authored by Mr Pronk of The Netherlands who is Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations in Sudan, leading the UN peace keeping operation (UNMIS - www.unmis.org).



Photo: Sudanese opposition leaders, including Al-Turabi and Al-Mahdi, brought together by the UN.

The United Nations Security Council, visiting Sudan early June, invited Sudanese opposition leaders to discuss the prospects of peace.

See from left to right Ali Mahmoud Hassanien, Deputy Chairman of the Democratic Unionis Party (DUP), Mohammed Ibrahim Nugud, Chairman of the Sudan Communist Party, Hassan Abdallah Al-Turabi, Chairman of the Popular National Congress Party (PNCP) and AL-Sadiq Al-Mahdi, Chairman of the Umma Party. The Chairman of the DUP, Al- Mergani, still keeps his residence in Egypt.

Al-Turabi sitting next to Al-Mahdi is rather unique. The Islamist Al-Turabi was the auctor intellectualis behind the military coup at the end of the ninety eighties which brought an end to the regime of Al-Mahdi. The latter had been Prime Minister after the democratic elections of 1986.

The Islamist Al-Turabi supported the regime of President Bashir many years. He was arrested and jailed when the Bashir regime changed its ideological orientation. Mid last year, after the formation of the Government of National Unity, which brought together Bashir's National Congress Party (NCP) and the Sudanese People's Liberation Movement of John Garang and Salve Kiir, Al-Turabi was set free. He directly started to severely provoke the government and surprised many people by taking rather liberal positions in matters concerning Islam. Elections are foreseen for 2008. It is uncertain how much support the various opposition parties will get, in particular because of the emergence of the SPLM, the Darfurian SLM and of course the NCP itself. [For greatly magnified view, click on original image at Jan Pronk's Weblog]

Jun 1 2005 Sudanese opposition leader [Sadiq al-Mahdi] to boycott interim government

May 14 2006 Sudan's Turabi condemns Darfur Peace Agreement - Al Turabi Is a Chameleon

Jun 3 2006 Al-Mahdi calls on Darfur rebels to adopt "civil jihad" to press Khartoum into convening all-inclusive conference - Unused water and Roseires Dam