IBRAHIM GHANDOUR: his comments during the August 31, 2014 meeting of Khartoum’s most senior military and security officials, the minutes of which were leaked and have been confirmed as authentic (all highlighting has been added—ER)
Professor Ibrahim Ghandur, Deputy Chairman of the NCP:
I agree to all what has been said so far. [This would include, e.g., proposals to “starve” the people of the Nuba Mountains, among other agreed to policies—ER]
First our preparations for the elections are going according to plan. Our party conferences are being held all over the country and the convention will take place on time, except that, we are going to delay naming our candidate for the presidency until the last moments so as to take the political arena by surprise. We want our security agencies to inform us ahead of time about the opinion of all political parties, loyal or detractors concerning the elections so we influence things at an early stage.
We have already arranged with the Public Congress Party (PCP), and we are paying them individual and party compensations for their loss, in addition to funds to be used to induce opposing PCP members. The total amount is three (3) billion to be paid in three installments. The first amount is to be paid at the beginning of the national dialogue. The second amount is to be handed at the nomination for the elections. The third, and last, is to be paid during the election campaign. We made this agreement that way in order to guarantee the participation of all the PCP in the election process.
We agreed to it because Turabi’s support for us has another dimension. It guarantees the consent and support of all the Islamic movements who are members of the International Islamic Movement, and in case there is any security threat, he can join us in the jihad against our common enemy. We will be able to bring all the Islamists together by that agreement on the basis of a program that holds mutual benefit to all. It is not necessary to come under one organization, the most important thing is the common objective against the secular forces or currents and the conspiracies targeting the Islamists all over the Arab land.
Regarding Al-Marghani group, (DUP) half of the party is with us, but we still need to concentrate on Hasan Hilal, Ahmed Saad and Omer Al-Shariif (currently ministers). We stand behind them, give them information on how they are targeted within their party.
Also half of Ghazi Salah al-Din’s party is ours.
We want our security agencies to maintain and keep the opposition elements so there will be a criticizing voice among us. This will help us convince the international community that ours is a mature and genuine democracy. Our relation with the EU is good and all the attempts of the SRF to enjoy recognition by the EU has failed. They only meet parliaments and not the governments who hold the decisions. We want a slow dialogue in order to allow for maneuvering. If we see that we are benefiting from it we can accelerate it, but if it is not in our favor, it can go slowly and the elections can take place in time. Our aim is to go to the election enjoying legitimacy accorded by the national dialogue process.
Regarding the movements, it is clear that, they will not join the dialogue because their demands are high. Their understanding is that we are weak therefore we suggested the national dialogue initiative. They think that, the national dialogue will provide them with an opportunity to dismantle the National Salvation Revolution and take its leaders to court. They are mistaken because anybody who wants a dialogue must accept to participate without condition. Sadiq wants them to support him and they also find strength from him after all their conspiracies against us failed.
The rebel statement and the Paris Declaration are one in content. The Paris Declaration contains expressions intended to appease Sadiq, because they don’t want him to lose support in his party. But at the same time it contains a bait to lure the NCP to accept the declaration. Sadiq contacted Mustafa Osman and told him about the declaration. Mustafa told him that he has not seen the Declaration and that they need to find out the Party’s opinion. Mustafa came to me and we went together to the President’s house. We found him with Abd al-Rahim. We discussed the declaration and the President told us to reject it and to go to the Islamic Movement for their opinion and then to present it to the Leadership Office of the Party for the official opinion.
That same night I went with Mustafa to see Al- Ziber Ahmed the S/G of the Islamic Movement and found DR. Kamal Obeid and Dr. El- Fateh Ezz el-Din. As soon as he saw us he asked us if we were coming regarding “Sadiq and the Rebels’ declaration” and he said that after consultations they rejected it part and parcel. They considered it a conspiracy directed against us. He told us that you must criminalize anyone who attended or participated in this Declaration, the media must be directed to campaign against it and intimidate people from joining this declaration. This declaration was supervised by foreign circles that are endeavoring to destroy Islam and the Muslims and it is tainted by the SPLM vision.
So we asked Mbeki and Mohammed to bring together the rebels for consultation about the national dialogue and both are in agreement with us.
Our position in regards to relief assistance for civilians is that no relief without permanent and forever-comprehensive cease-fire agreement according to a bundle of arrangements that should lead to disarmament and demobilization of all the militias.
The Political committee of Nuba Mountains and the Blue Nile under Mohammed are working with the state to settle the citizens and provide work opportunities for their children. What is available now is the RSF because of their high salaries and the fact that the leaders want to drive the rebels away from their areas. The important issue here is that we have decided that we must bring division to the Revolution Front and the Public Movement so we can be relieved of these problems.
Regarding Al-Kher Al-Fahim, it is clear that his performance is weak [representing Khartoum in Abyei—ER]. We are interested in a relationship with the South that is free from treachery. Salva Kiir has always deceived us, but we showed patience despite our knowledge of every detail. We wanted him to stop his support to the rebels and hand over the borders to us, but he always looked for excuses. So, we remain with no choice, but to liberate our land from the control of the rebels.
The relationship with Iran is one of the best relationships in the history of the Sudan. Accordingly, the management of this relationship requires wisdom and knowledge of all its details.The assistance we received from Iran is immeasurable. The commonalities between us are many. People should not limit their concern to the aspect of converting to Shiism only. There are many infiltrators who are working to see us lose our relationship with Iran. We must note that Iran is a friend to all the Islamic movements worldwide. We need to conduct internal consultations first and then we put our Iranian partners in the picture about all the details.
The economic crisis is temporary. It will improve, since programs were put in place to solve the problems. It will be over soon by increasing the agricultural and animal production. At the same time we must discover what the Arabs and the Egyptians need, taking into consideration their hatred towards the rule of the Muslim Brothers and their intentions towards us. We need at this juncture to end the war. Once the war is over we use the money spent there to support the economy. So, ending the civil war in Darfur states and Kordofan will have positive impact on the economy, specially their livestock.