Burhan: Sudan to Build National Army

The head of the Sudanese Sovereignty Council, Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, announced Wednesday that his country intends to work on building a national army.

Al-Burhan expressed, in remarks to Al-Arabiya TV at the conclusion of the Taharqa 4 maneuver, that he welcomed the joining of the armed movements to the Sudanese army, pointing out that Khartoum had achieved peace as "one of the most important goals of the revolution in Sudan."

Burhan called on the two leaders, Abdel Wahid Al-Nur and Abdel-Aziz Al-Hilu, to join peace, adding that "the country needs them."

The Sudanese News Agency "SUNA" reported that the Sudanese Liberation Army movement called for "political partnership" between the parties to the transitional period.

"The political process is the only guarantee of political stability and the success of the institutions of the transitional period," the movement said.

In the meantime, the Sudanese government had published a statement announcing its rejection of the statement of the "partners of the transitional period."

SUNA quoted Faisal Mohamed Salih, Minister of Culture and Information, official spokesman for the Sudanese transitional government, as saying that that statement is to clarify the facts to the public opinion.

Earlier, Burhan announced the formation of a council for the transitional period partners, comprising 29 members of the military, civilians and representatives of the armed movements that signed the peace agreement in Juba last October.

He said that after a year of the transitional government in Sudan, complete helplessness and suffering increased, stressing that the Transitional Council does not have any powers.

The head of the Sovereign Council pledged that "the Sudanese Transitional Partners Council will work to resolve differences between partners," denying that it is a "tool of guardianship over state agencies."

In another context, and with the approaching withdrawal of the African Union and United Nations mission, the German Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday that "the transitional government must be prepared to intervene and bridge the gap."

The German ambassador to Sudan urged the Security Council to help "to ensure stability in Darfur, protect civilians and prevent a return to conflict."