Sudanese President Omar Hassan Al-Bashir has made a rare public appeal to opposition parties to join a broad based-government just days ahead of a vote which will likely see the south move toward independence. A January 9 referendum on secession for the oil-producing south has preoccupied Khartoum as the expected split would weaken his government. There would be a loss of goodwill among the north’s majority pro-unity population as well as a weakening of its financial base with the loss of key oil revenues.
“I sincerely call on all the national powers and leaders of political parties to unite their hearts and minds behind one aim – strengthening the foundations of our nation and its independence far from foreign intervention,” Bashir was quoted as saying in his annual address for Sudan’s independence day.