Al-Mirghani-Garang Initiative (1988): Who is Afraid of the National Islamic Front?
Abdullah Ali Ibrahim
“Nevertheless” section in Al-Khartoum newspaper
Wednesday, November 16, 1988
(This is a speech about Al-Mirghani-Garang initiative, which is still fresh and on the discussion table. It may shed light on this agreement other than what it is known for in some circles, that it is the culmination and end of wisdom.
I noticed its procedural flaws on the day, which may have involved it in a dispute from which it may have escaped, even if only a little)
It is necessary to note the deliberate position of the National Islamic Front ( NIF) on the Federal Initiative (Al-Mirghani-Garang) in its first form, which was stated by Dr. Ali Al-Haj to “Al-Siyasa” newspaper the day before yesterday.
Ali Al-Haj criticized the Federalist for not presenting the draft agreement with the People’s Movement to them, neither as a party in the Government of National Accord, nor as an influential political force.
He rightly said that the ( NIF)’ failure to review that draft (and consult with it on any new developments, of course) would weaken the chances of the agreement’s success.
The Council of Ministers, except for its President, was criticized for its absence from the initiative. Ali Al-Haj reiterated the (NIF)’ position on the necessity of negotiators sitting on any initiative without any preconditions.
Osman Omar (Unionist ) affirmed that the Unionist initiative was free of preconditions.
Ali Al-Haj refrained from delving into the positives that the initiative might yield until the initiative settles on something, following Dr. Al-Turabi’s example.
Although I do not accept Ali Al-Haj’s assessments, I understand them and do not find them disturbing to the content of the Unionist initiative, even if I changed some of its procedures. My note on this position of the ( NIF) stems from two matters. The first is that the Unionist peace initiative needs everyone’s blessing in intention and action.
If we say that in the civil war that erupts, there is no loser and winner, then in safety from it there is also no place for the isolated or secluded. The (NIF )has an expected contribution to resolving the most complex issues of peace, which is the Islamic legislation that has fueled it, legitimized it, and protected it over two decades of our history.
I noted Ali Al-Haj’s speech secondly because I saw that he went far beyond a previous position of the NIF condemning the initiatives and describing them as surrender to the rebellion allied with Zionism, and considered them a betrayal of the armed forces.
Yassin Omar Al-Imam went on to say in his interview with Al-Usbu’ newspaper that the people behind the initiatives are ignorant of the situations of these powers and do not feel their pain.
This is a guardianship over our armed forces SAF that I hope some of the spokesmen on behalf of the NIF will stop. Yassin stunned us with his speech.
Soldiers who do not know how to welcome peace are doubtful about their ability to wage war. Allah forbid our army. I read a summary of an interview with Ali Al-Haj in Al-Raya, the mouthpiece of the NIF, yesterday and promised the newspaper to publish it in full today. I understand the constitutional requirements that came in the summary of his speech, which he said the terms of Al-Mirghani-Garang agreement must be subject to.
However, I was not comfortable with his description of the agreement before it happened as a complete surrender to the rebellion.
This idea of his is a step back, we hope it will not lead to a complete regression from his first political assessments, which we appreciated. I hope that a recent text from Al-Hajj will come tomorrow, which will confirm my appreciation for his words in “politics”, as our need for the NIF’ optimism regarding the ongoing peace initiative is limitless.
