Bashir says peace, economic growth top agenda for Sudan

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on Monday said the priorities of the government of national consensus are represented in laying down the pillars of peace across country and resolving the economic issues.

Al-Bashir on Monday addressed the opening of the new session of Sudan's National Assembly (parliament), reviewing the accomplishments achieved in the past and priorities of the coming government.

"The coming period will witness essential amendments reflecting the outcomes of the national dialogue conference and priorities of the National Consensus Government, which are represented in laying down the pillars of peace across the country and generalizing the convention of national dialogue among all political organizations to achieve interests," noted al-Bashir.

He vowed that the coming government would work to ensure peaceful transfer of power, protection of the constitution, fostering the rule of law and guaranteeing freedom of expression and organization for all the citizens.

He further explained that the economic program for the coming period would stand on shifting toward production, coping with the movement in the investment sector and working to attract external and national investments, reduce the inflation rates and stabilize the exchange rate of the national currency.

Sudan is expected to witness appointment of a government of national consensus involving the ruling National Congress Party and all parties and armed movements which took part in the national dialogue conference.

In January 2014, al-Bashir declared an initiative calling on the opposition parties and the armed groups to join a national dialogue to end the country's crises.

The sessions of the dialogue kicked off in October 2015 and concluded in October 2016 with the approval of the national document formulated by the participants in the conference.

The conference was launched 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 refused 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.

source: Xinhua