SUDAN / ELECTIONS

Sadiq Al-Mahdi, the head of the Umma Party is in Juba to discuss the upcoming elections with Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM). The 74-year-old Umma party leader is to talk about the terms of coexistence, if South Sudan decides for independence and about the fraternal relationship between North Sudan and South Sudan. UNMIS

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:01:56
• Production Date: 3 September 2009
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS ASSISTANCE MISSION IN SUDAN - UNMIS
• Subject Topical: PEACE AND SECURITY; POLITICAL CONDITIONS
• Geographic Subject: SUDAN
• MAMS Id: U090903e

Description

STORY: SUDAN / ELECTIONS
TRT: 1:56
SOURCE: UNMIS
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: SEPTEMBER 3 - 2009 JUBA, SUDAN

Shotlist

1. Wide shot, Juba Airport
2. Med shot, Juba Airport sign
3. Wide shot, Government and SPLM officials at Juba airport
4. Med shot, Sadiq Al-Mahdi, head of the Umma Party being greeted by Dr. Machar Vise president of Southern Sudan
5. Wide shot, Al Mahdi walking towards VIP
6. Med shot, group of Journalists
7. Med shot, VP Machar and Al Mahdi seated
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Sadiq Al-Mahdi, head of the Umma Party:
“Self determination is a decision by the people of Sudan to seek voluntary unity. And therefore in our discussions with the leadership of the SPLM we have suggested ways and means of making self determination easier simpler and more straight forward because it is going to be counter productive in the national interest if we play politics.”
9. Wide shot, group of journalists
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Sadiq Al-Mahdi, head of the Umma Party:
“We don’t want to play politics with self determination, we want self determination to be a straight forward voluntary decision by the people, our brothers and sisters in the south and therefore we will work and stand against any attempts to play politics with self determination.”
11. Med shot, Al Mahdi with journalists

Storyline

Sadiq Al-Mahdi the head of the Umma Party arrived in Juba the capital of Southern Sudan today to discuss the upcoming elections with Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM).
The 74-year-old Umma party leader said that he will also discuss the terms of coexistence, if south Sudan decide for independence, and talk about the special relationship, fraternal relationship between North Sudan and South Sudan.

Al-Mahdi said that there is no room in Sudan except for voluntary unity or voluntary separation. He emphasized on making self determination easier and simpler not in anyway to make it more difficult.

SOUNDBITE (English) Sadiq Al-Mahdi, head of the Umma Party:
“Self determination is a decision by the people of Sudan to seek voluntary unity. And therefore in our discussions with the leadership of the SPLM we have suggested ways and means of making self determination easier simpler and straighter forward because it is going to be counter productive in the national interest if we play politics.”

He also warned that he will work and stand against any attempt to play with politics against self determination.

SOUNDBITE: (English) Sadiq Al-Mahdi, head of the Umma Party:
“We don’t want to play politics with self determination, we want self determination to be a straight forward voluntary decision by the people, our brothers and sisters in the south and therefore we will work and stand against any attempts to play politics with self determination.”
Sadiq Al-Mahdi is the chairman of the Umma party since 1964. In 1966, at the age of 31, he became Sudan’s youngest elected Prime Minister.
Elected as Prime Minister of Sudan in 1986, his government was overthrown by a military coup d’état led by the Brigadier Omer Hassan Al-Bashir on June 30, 1989.
ENDS