Independent Sudan

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27631, 12 April 1955, Page 12

Independent Sudan

The declaration in Khartoum last week of the Sudanese National Unionist Party favouring “ a fully “ sovereign republic with its own “ president, government, and parlia- “ ment ” marks an interesting change in the public attitude of the party which forms the Government of the Sudan. Because some of its leaders (including the present Prime Minister) had pledged themselves to promote the “ unity of the Nile “ Valley ” by .some form of integration with Egypt, the victory of the N.U.P. at the elections 18 months ago was presumed to forecast the absorption of the Sudan into Egypt. But the attitude of the N.U.P. was never wholly or firmly pro-Egyptian. The N.U.P. was a grouping of political parties and religious sects which found a basis for unity in opposition to the Umma Party, whose tradition, founded in the days of Gordon and the Dervishes, is bitterly opposed to Egyptian influence in the Sudan. The rival Khatmia sect allied itself to the proEgyptian Ashigga political party under the N.U.P. banner chiefly for the purpose of defeating the Umma, whose domination it fears. Tacit support of a pro-Egyptian policy was seen by the Khatmia* as the lesser of two evils. The first Government of the Sudan, formed by the N.U.P., included, therefore, men pledged to

integration with Egypt and men whose attraction to Egypt was a matter of expediency. Not surprisingly, the factibns in the Council of iMinisters found themselves at cross

purposes when it came to defining the attitude of the N.U.P. to the constitutional changes in progress. Definition became urgent when the Sudan Government (in keeping with a general policy to hasten ’ Sudanisation ”) decided to shorten by a year the transitional period provided under the Anglo-Egyptian agreement.

It was announced recently that the Government of the Sudan hopes to complete by the end of this year the processes which will determine the Sudan’s future international status. The final processes will be the election of a Constituent Assembly which, when elected, will have two duties: first, to decide whether the country is to be wholly independent or linked in some way with Egypt; and second, to draw up a permanent Constitution for the Sudan compatible with this decision. The Khatmia faction in the Council of Ministers has been firm against integration of the Sudan with Egypt; and in recent months the Prime Minister, against his earlier convictions, has shown some sympathy with this point of view. The announcement from Khartoum last week suggests that the N.U.P. has been able to make up its mind and to appear now as a party favouring full and complete independence for the Sudan? The Ministers of the Ashigga faction have been helped towards this attitude, no doubt, by a strong swing of public opinion against Egypt. The Egyptians have never enjoyed much popularity in the Sudan. Although they won some favour as champions of Sudanese independence from Britain, they have, since the election, forfeited much of this good will by tactless] acts and speeches and particularly by their attitude during the recent negotiations for a new Nile waters agreement. The Cairo Government is unlikely to take the change of attitude of the N.U.P. lying down. Egyptian propaganda has recently attacked leading Khatmia Ministers in the Sudanese Council as traitors; and it i has been said that Egypt was testing the ground "with a view to forming a new pro-union party should the -Ashigga (action finally declare for independence. But with the popular wind now blowing so strongly for : full independence, it is doubtful , whether Sudanese politicians of i standing will commit themselves .to an unpopular policy. The Sudan faces many political as well as administrative and economic, ’ troubles. But now that both the major religious sects and the political parties to which they are allied i have a common aim in an indepen- ' dent Sudan, there can be hope that ; the asperities of sectarianism will soften. At least, the definition of the attitude of the N.U.P. makes most unlikely what appeared probable 18 months ago—that Sudanese sectarianism would make it possible ' for Egypt to bring the Sudan i permanently wider it* domination. I