A mandate for progress and renewal: the concerted programme of political action of the candidate of the Sudanese Socialist Union for the presidency of the republic (third mandate). Documents of the 4th National Congress

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Ittihad al - Ishtirāki al - Sudāni .

Mu'tamar al - Qawmi ( 4th : 1983 : Kharatoom , Sudan)

A mandate for progress and renewal .

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: , Revolution , and Peace FOUNDED BY HERBERT HOOVER , 1919

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Alth

NAT

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I UN

CO N G R ES

SELF. RELIANCE SELF.ESTEEM

SELF.COMMAND

S 1983

A MANDATE FOR PROGRESS AND RENEWAL THE

CONCERTED

SOLITICAL ACTION

PROGRAMME OF THE

OF

CANDIDATE

OF THE SUDANESE SOCIALIST UNION FOR THE

PRESIDENCY OF THE

REPUBLIC

(THIRD MANDATE) DOCUMENTS

OF THE 4 th

NATIONAL

(NC /4 /1)

CONGRESS

Ittihad ae - Ishtiriki ae Sudant. Murtamar al - Qawmi (41h ;1983 : Khartoum , Sudan )

A MANDATE FOR PROGRESS AND RENEWAL THE

CONCERTED

POLITICAL

ACTION

OF THE

SUDANESE

FOR THE

PROGRAMME

OF THE

PRESIDENCY

OF

CANDIDATE

SOCIALIST OF THE

UNION REPUBLIC

(THIRD MANDATE) DOCUMENTS OF THE 4 th

NATIONAL CONGRESS

(NC / 4 /1)

FOURTH NATIONAL CONGRESS

SUDANESE SOCIALIST UNION

26th Feb. - 4th March 1983

The Concerted Political Programme of Action of the Candidate

of the Sudanese Socialist Union to the Presidency of the Republic

THIRD MANDATE

May 1983 - May 1989

Prelude

Preface

Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter

I II III IV V VI VII VIII ..

Political Programme Economic Programme Social Programme System of Government

Administration of Justice People's Armed Forces Foreign Policy Integration Between Egypt and the Sudan .

PRELUDE

This provisional programme for the new Session of the Sudanese Socialist Union is submitted by the Chairman of the

S.S.U., who is also the candidate for the Presidency of the Republic for a third term of office. The programme is subjec ted for political discussion at all levels before being adopted by the Fourth National Congress for the period 26th. Feb. - 4th March, 1983. On adoption it becomes a programme of national action to revitalize our political activity, improve its implemen tation, and serve as the guiding framework for all working forces. It is not meant as a cursory review, nor a dull compilation

of ministerial projects and departmental figures, nor is it in spired by subjective, private opinions. It reflects the careful studies and deliberations of several groups within the Sudanese Socialist Union, compiled and drafted under the personal super vision of the President and Chairman of the S.S. Ū. It is closely linked to past achievements of the May Revolution and inde libly characterized by the personal style of H.E. President Gaafar Mohamed Nimeiri, cultivated throughout the two terms of his Presidency. May God guide our steps in the right direction .

Headquarters of the Sudanese Socialist Union

26th Rabie El Thani 1403 H.

10th February , 1983.

- 1 PREFACE

It may be appropriate before launching upon a programme of future action, to review past achievements. Our reappraisal should not only be objective, but highly critical of the context , the priorities and programming of these achievements. Only thus can this Revolution maintain its momentum for progress,

prosperity and national unity.

This survey takes place at a highly critical juncture, as we

gather at the close of a session that has been characterized by formidable hardships. Yet we look forward to an era of ambi

tious achievements. A new term of presidential rule conducted by our political organisation and governed by our constitution and national sovereignty lies ahead.

Monumental tasks have been courageously undertaken dur ing the past fourteen years and, despite adverse circumstances , brilliant results have been achieved , thanks to our revolutionary

zeal and national dedication. Equally formidable are the tasks that loom ahead but, thanks to our devotion to this country and our avowed belief in this Revolution , we are convinced that

its way is the only road. We shall therefore march forward with courage and determination to fulfil our mission to be and to build

Revolutions, dear friends, are destined to remould history,

not by preaching change nor by indulging in wishful thinking. Such a gigantic task can only come about through sacrifice and endurance.

We have to remember that great nations are the crowning achievement of originality, will - power, unity and dedicated service to motherland and people. May Revolution is inextri ably linked with our cultural heritage, deeply rooted and closely entwined with our history. Yet our Revolution has had to det

ine its own principles and chart its own ends to coincide with a highly critical historical juncture. Suffice it to say that these aims have guided our steps through our darkest hours, and led us forward despite great hardships and tribulations. Possessed of zeal and courage, our people have rallied to defend their Rev olution in the face of grave dangers.

It is not for us to claim that the achievements during two terms of office are the be-all or end-all. Nor can we presume that these achievements are miraculous, for such a presumption would be a form of smug self-deception .

- 2 -

Despite their drawbacks, these achievements are remark ably striking landmarks of national reconstruction which can not be denied .

There have been hardships, trials and errors that have res trained our ambitious endeavour but we should candidly, and

dispassionately reflect on past performance. By charting our course for future action during the coming third term of office, we will safeguard our progress towards wider horizons.

This document reflects a comprehensive programme of pol itical action as set forth by the political organisation and as gui ded by the principles and priorities of this Revolution.

It is

designed as an expression of our national will, a step towards development, a call for greater unity and loyalty to this nation. Past experience has acquainted us with significant landmarks, and invigorated our self-assurance to fulfil the historic mission

of this Revolution for nation -building , for economic develop ment, for social democracy and for the equitable distribution of wealth and authority between all Sudanese. All the programmes of national construction, endorsed by this Revolution have had to devise new methods of implemen tation, new approaches for both means and ends . These can not be confined to absolute moulds , but have to be modified in order to respond to our needs, and to meet the ever-changing demands of national construction . The ultimate end of build

ing a new Sudan has to be vitalized by our unified will-power,

inspired by our national genius and guided by the human her itage of the world around us .

By resolving the complex problem of the South, our nation has taken a giant stride towards unity; and by rising to the dau nting repercussions that followed in the aftermath , our efforts have been acclaimed by friend and foe alike.

These landmarks have signalled the starting point for the march towards security and national unity. Can we therefore justifiably claim that a solid foundation for development and progress has been firmly established ? Let us , dear friends, be ever mindful of the difficulties, and

constantly alert to the dangers, that could undermine our sa fety and security . In order to harmonize our national existence, we have to

uproot dissent , conflict and strife. To safeguard our unity and stability, the rule of law must be seen to prevail , and popular will must be made to dominate .

--3

Tribalism , sectarianism , partisanship as well as economic domination have stubbornly tried to thwart the Revolution. Confrontation was unavoidable for our goals of justice, equality and progress to berealized. For these new concepts to take root, revolutionary legality had to be supplemented by constitutional legality. Al forms of national endeavours have been codified into the Permanent Constitution and embodied in the Execut

ive Presidency Various institutions and organisations such as the Sudanese Socialist Union, the National Assembly, Regional Governments, local bodies have come to epitomize national unity, reinforce

sovereignty and voice the popular will of our people. Strife,

dissent and the senseless dissipation of our national potential ities have to be contained. Our energies can thus be channel led towards progress and the inauguration of major economic projects and social plans, designed towards a more equitable di stribution of wealth, and a better way of life, to accelerate the spread of social democracy throughout all the regions. That will be the historic mission of this Revolution. With a programme to develop and rejuvenate our way of life, we shall

be better equipped to shoulder future responsibilities and to ab sorb the impact of change. We may be called upon to revolu

tionize certain concepts; and be prepared to revise our priorities to face new situations. We may even have to readjust our so

cialist thinking so that our political philosophy can reflect greater harmony with our social realities.

To evolve and promote the system of action within the Sudanese Socialist Union , which has proved to be an effective

and sound instrument of change, this programme will reinforce and conserve our national unity and will-power . By preserving our energy and reflecting the mighty alliance of our productive forces, the S.S.U. , will pioneer and spearhead the march towards construction and the evolution of socialist democracy. This

political organisation will exert greater influences as long as it

pursues healthly principles, an integrated system of action and as long as it continues to embody our national aspirations , under

a dedicated, honest and self-denying leadership. All our charters , national programmes and throughout the

first and second terms of office, stress that only by uplifting the moral and social being of the individual can we hope to build a developed sense of religion that can be a liberating instrument for social reform . It is based on humanitarian values which have constituted the moral fibre of our long national struggle.

- 4 We shall maintain that tradition in order to promote con

tinuity for our national talent, release our constructive energy, so that national endeavour can be constituted as a form of self expression

Such transformation can not take place within the short spell of one or two terms of office, but requires a long term

strategy of careful deliberation and preparation. Meticulous studies should precede social reform , revision of laws has to be scrupulously scrutinized and this slow cautious process has to be inspired by a spirit of moderation . Gentle persuasion has epitomized the spread of the message of Islam throughout var ious peoples and has been reiterated in various chapters of the

Koran and sayings of the Prophet. Tolerance has been expres sed through the fact that special provision has been made for non-Muslims who are granted the same protection and whose rights are observed by law. There is neither bigotry nor sec

tarianism since our approach is to resolve problems literally, intelligently and in a spirit of reform . Our country is undergoing a fast transformation of a simple rural community into a complex industrialized society with new values, habits and traditions. This change calls for a compre hensive approach to withstand the adverse effects of this deve

lopment on the individual citizen. Greater effort should be directed towards reinforcing the moral fibre of his character.

Islam , as a cultural framework and a civilizing influence on our being, exerts a unifying force which helps to achieve our national aims and correspond with article 16 (A) of our Consti tution which specifies that faith is Islam and that the state is to strive to promote its moral values.

Other faiths, however, are respected and protected by Islam

and the adherents of other faiths enjoy full legal rights, not only as a gesture of goodwill but as an article of faith within an Islamic society. Certain social habits, the rights of non-Muslims, the geographical position of the Sudan have to be taken intocon sideration so that social equality is to prevail. By identifying

the sources of our legislation, we hope to bring about geater social harmony and help the individual citizen to withstand the temp tations of self indulgence. The liberating influence that the

Revolution has had on our social, political and spiritual life, has to be restrained by spiritual values that stress individual and social

responsibilities. By emphasizing these duties as enumerated in Islam and other religions , we shall channel the collective nat ional energy towards nation building.

-

5

We should also strive to preserve our national way of life ; our concepts of traditional common decency ; our closely knit family life against the overpowering impact of economic growth

and quick industrialization. Greed, corruption, inefficiency and indifference should not be allowed to undermine the moral

integrity of the state organs . All this shall not prejudice the socialist democratic trend of the state to safeguard the right to education, health and social well-being for all citizens.

- 6 CHAPTER

I

PROMOTING POLITICAL ACTIVITY

) ( A

Experimenting with Some Political and Organizational

(B)

Options. Method of Sound Political Action .

(C )

-Authority of the Alliance .

(A) Test and trial have conclusively proven that both pol itical and organizational heories of the Sudanese Socialist Union are sound . W have found out , to our cost, that the multi party systems of yesterday were various facets of traditional

sectarian, ethnic and cultural groupings which have proved inca pable of shouldering the historic tasks of a newly independent country. The party system of government has failed to achieve

national unity and cohesion -but did, on the contrary, aggravate dissent , division and dissipation. The parties failed to come to grips with fundamental national issues such as the glaring cont rast between social groupings, the central issue of conomic and

social development which should not be superceded by side iss ues ; the national struggle that was blurred by superficial social conflict . The S.S.U has therefore stressed the following as the most basic in our country :

( 1) Nation building to be crystallized within our unity,

(2) Economic, social and political development, ( 3) Deep sense of national participation with justice, inter dependence and originality.

Our new political experiment has not only rejected multi party but has also dismissed the one party system as dictatorial, pedantic and drastically ruthless. Our nation first and last is the symbol that has inspired the theory behind the S.S.U. His

toric neccessity impels us to stress unity, loyalty rather than sect or party, to do away with dissent and isolation and to promote

cohesion and solidarity so that values of national unity, a sense of belonging to a united country may prevail. It goes without saying that means and ends have had to be

reconciled and the S.S.Ú. had to emerge as a melting pot for that unity. It has to be a populist organization structurally based on social forces that would constitute a broad foundation. It

has to extend all over the country and its principles have to per meate all social and cultural activity, before it becomes a nati

- 7

onal institution which can absorb all forces of dissent , and rel

ease the creative talent of all productive forces.

The facts of

political life have guided us to make this choice and the birth of our great nation has pointed the way to this choice.

It is only

logical then that our programmes, and the framework of all pol itical work have been dominated by this choice .

We have to be constantly wary of divergences between theory and practice so that revision may not be mistaken for

retreat. We should constantly and courageously ask ourselves what is to be done for the S.S.U. to be more effective, more vocal

and more representative. (B) Sound Political Action : Some basic issues have to be discussed : 1.

The moving spirit is more vital than both organization and theory; a spark of inspiration can start change and reform and transform the organization into a great

moral force, a source of vitality that can be gener ated through :

(a) Mobilizing the creative talents of writers, artists,

thinkers for a great cultural resurgence converting the press into popular platforms for enlightened opinion on social, cultural and political issues.

(b) Revitalizing the youth movement through varied intellectual, cultural and physical activity so that the spirit of youth can express itself in construc

tive activities which are psychologically and educ ationally satisfying. (c) Greater and wider response to the social rights of women .

(d) A more creative awareness of political, social and religious festivals by the S.S.U.

(e) A greater sense of solidarity and comradeship wi thin the S.S.U. and with other organized groupings such as labour and peasant unions, businessmen and regular forces.

It is within the S.S.U. that trade

that professionals and businessmen have acquired a greater sense of social responsibility : unionism

has

matured

and

(2) A few questions may be pertinent if we are to apply

sound methods for political action . We could enquire

whether the S.S.U. is truly open to all, whether it is

8

adaptable enough, whether it is representative of alr productive forces and whether it has been remodelled to accomodate the newly created regions. We should see to it that membership is truly accessible to

the broad masses of our people and that no groupings are allow ed to dominate the S.S.U. or fail to voice the genuine will of these

massess. Elections for the office holders of the organisation should be free and the will of the electorate should be respected.

We may also consider reorganising the basic units to correspond with regionalism yet retain the centralized authority of the S.S.U. (3) The relationship between the political and the executive organs has often been 'ambiguous.

It should therefore

be explicitly stated that the former does not exercise any direct administrative authority on the executive. The political organization is not called upon nor is it authorized to impose any formation on the executive

which exercises its powers as specified by law or within the constitution.

No other organization not

thus authorized, can under

any other pretext , usurp

such powers.

(C) The Nature of Alliance The S.S.U. does not practice the concept of party -state

yet it confers on the political organization a form of constitutional standing, as a representative of our sum total. The fourth article of the

National Constitution describes the S.S.U. as

representing the combined authority of the productive forces, leading national endeavour and as instrumental in stressing the values of democracy, socialism and national unity. Terms such as authority, alliance and the exercise of authority need to be clearly defined : i)

This authority of the S.S.U. does not justify displacing other authorities in their spheres of influence, but does

warrant the leadership and guidance of national policy as an embodiment of national aspirations by the S.S.U. as an embodiment of national aspirations, as a harbinger of a new message and the seat of lead ership It is meant to lead, inspire and generate new ideas .

(2) It should be stressed yet again the S.S.U. should not be

crippled by bureaucratic activity but should devote more attention to definite programmes of action dealing with intellectual, political, social and economic problems.

It should help transform the central leadership into an organ for formulating higher policies to stimulate wider

9

more popular debate and discussion. Only by spear heading such participation, can the S.S.U. claim the

role of leadership and stipulate definite policies and programmes to be binding. Only then can it assume the role of arbiter to supervise, correct and rectify and thus justify the privileged position of leadership . The nomination of the President of the S.S.U. to a third

term of presidency is the outcome of such a method for sound political action.

(3) Whatever methods we adopt, our system of work has to be revised and improved. We need greater par ticipation, more voluntary action and less bureaucratic methods so that our organization should reflect a truly

populist nature. It should also show greater self-reliance by introducing a financial contribution by its members. That would not only help run the organization but also

symbolize a spirit of loyal participation. We shall accordingly submit a separate paper proposing some changes in the Basic Statute and the Organizational Rules governing the S.S.U.

- 10

CHAPTER

ECONOMIC

II

POLICY

The Economic Strategy

Objectives of the Economic Strategy Methods and Tools of the Economic Strategy

11

ECONOMIC POLICY

Our country is now witnessing the great and laborious ex perience of the Democratic Socialist Renewal of its political, economic and social structure

It is a historic transformation

emanating from , and inspired by, our sacred faith and the noblest values and traditions. Its aim is to attain freedom, progress, abundance, justice in all aspects of life and an integrated economic , Social and political development. It is neither statistics and figures nor dogmatic quantitative targets and account accumulations that should be taken as the only indicators and measures of progress and development . We believe that the true spirit of Islam calls upon us to be above material gains; and call for the preservation of the high Islamic

values and practices. At the same time we would not tolerate any contradictions between scientific and technical progress on the one hand and upholding our belief, culture and conscience. We will exert our utmost effort to protect progress by providing justice. We will restrain greed and self indulgence by self statisfaction and contentedness. We will not suffer the attainment of progress

by coercion; nor achievement through suppression and terror. The aims of growth and development will be determined through our own discretion and dictated by our own needs and objectives. We

are not preaching isolation or seclusion, but emphasizing self

esteem and appealing to the sources of our civilization, authenticity and originality. The renovation of Socialist democracy is based on a mixed economy comprising various kinds of ownership methods of

social guidance and patterns of partnership when taking econo mic decisions.

The mixed economy comprises public, cooperative, private

as well as a form of partnership widely open to Arab, Islamic and African development corporations and friendly countries , as well as a large number of small and family property and communal rights.

It is incumbent upon the state, its corporations and organiza

tions to shoulder the responsibility for the social control of these various kinds of property and leadership of the Democratic Soci list Renewal. It is necessary to emphasize that this kind of econo

my planning is not a temporary measure to be succeeded by re moving private ownership and the cancellation of private economic activity. We are committed to a mixed economy that comp

prises various kinds of ownership and the means of its social con trol; and thus safeguards democracy, justice, unity and freedom ,

12

It is inconceivable that we encourage private initiatives and investments at one time to undermine, sabotage and cancel

them at another. This is not one of our principles since we differ from totalitarian systems in that we believe in private ownership, and its constructive social role.

We differ with orthodox capitalist systems in that we relegate

private ownership to the social consideration and the common good . According to SHARIA law private ownership should not supercede public interest .

We are especially duty bound to use all the means available to fight the accumulation of private wealth through malpractices, commissions and favouritism , black marketeering- dodging public dues, and all other manifestations and economic or social corrup

tion. We have to encourage productive manpower, to uphold integrity, honour, work. Measures should be adopted to dis courage the hoarding of wealth and promote the equitable distri

bution of wealth . The fruits of development should be enjoyed by all rather than create the wealthy privileged few. way

Whatever our difficulties, problems, and crises are, the only of solving them is by relying on ourselves, our will , our capa

We will never revert to ready made solutions for our problems; and nobody will volunteer to mind our

bilities and our resources. Worries and burdens.

It is not like us to seek charity.

neither a golden nor a magic touch to amass wealth.

There is

Wealth

is under our feet and below our soil.

The secret of power is the spiritual values that control our senses and hope that lights our way.

Our will-power

and muscles are the key to the revelations of the

treasures

and prosperity concealed inside the lands of our country. We will not seek solutions outside these materials and spiritual resou rces we are endowed with .

Self-reliance is not mere dependence on the material resour ces of the country and the people; it is wider and greater. It is found in self esteem , in a people's moral fibre and in the perfect instinct for piety the Almighty has endowed us with. There is no alternative to integrity, honesty, interdependence, self denial,

contentedness, austerity, patience , will-power, determination and fear of God.

It is imperative that we restrain the unholy rush towards imported and foreign goods. Self control is exercised by self reliance, respect of values, and ethics which we should bring our youngsters to respect. We should urge them to cherish nat ional products , agriculture, industry and hand-crafts .

13

The economic difficulties of the Sudan are historical struc

tural problems typical of the newly independent developing countries which are and will be for some time, under the yoke of

poverty and historical backwardness. These countries have started from scratch. Therefore their economic development efforts have been stultified by the vicious circles of the archaic

infrastructures, the small capital formations, the shortage of skills, the narrowness of the base of production and the prevai ling stagnation of the economic framework as a whole. These vicious circles of cause and effect interchange , and their impact

in felt within each of the developing countries amongst which the Sudan is one .

The harsh international economic pressures have worsened such conditions and have even made it impossible for those countries to emerge from their backwardness. The energy

crisis and its prohibitive prices, stagnation , recession , instability in the international currency markets, shortages of credit faci ilities and the increase of the interest rates are all detrimental

to our economic development. Changes that have led many of us into cruel economic

crises

and condemnation. The

Sudan has had its share of these tensions and crises which we

cannot afford as it is beyond our means to bear their burden . But we have to recognize reality and live with it and adapt to

it however hard and painful the adaptation and in spite of the enormous reserves of determination , perseverence , will power and patience required.

The effect of these negative elements has been multiplied by many policies favouring consumption to the detriment of production, by expanding public expenditure and continued

failures in some of the public production units. The unrealistic exchange rates have increased consumption and led to serious. losses by producers and exporters.

The enormous expansion of social services and the inflated government expenditure have created enormous pressures on the national economy which are incommensurate with the productive capacity of the country. It is such a situation and circumstances which compel us to follow an economic strategy governed by the necessity of find ing the right balanee between Financial Reform and Economic Programme ; and the principles ofSocialist Renewal , to strike a balance between the inevitability of the historical drive forward and the need to stop to appraise achievements. Thus, the goals of the economic strategy bring together the historical goals of development , the democratic socialist transformation, the goals of adapting to the international economic situation and the treatment of the maladies and negative symptoms in the national economic life.

14

THE ECONOMIC STRATEGY :

To choose the methods and tools for this Economic Stra

* tegy, the following considerations and directives should be borne in mind :

First : When tackling major problems, the aim should be to face them with commensurate major solutions. In achieving

this task, we should be armed with the spirit of responsibility and daring without being crippled by doubts, perplexities, hesitation, helpessness and with the ability to resist the appeal

of a deceptively easy solution of impotent patchwork methods. The officials and leaders at all levels should be decisive, dutiful,

responsible and capable of applying positive and effective methods in the public service. The attitudes of laziness, dependence , procrastination , evasion of duties and fear of shouldering res

ponsibility must be discarded . Second : When tackling our problems, we should be careful

not to prescribe an ailment for the treatment of malady.

We

should not retreat to the useless methods of coercion and suppr

ession. There should be no retreat from freeing the national -economy of the obsolete restrictive methods that have proved a failure. There shall be no turning back to the cancellation of the irregular, fabricated and distorted system of economic deal

rings such as barter trade, imports without transfer (Nil Value) and monopoly. We should provide the atmosphere of purity and responsible freedom necessary for setting free the restrained powers and capabilities of our national economy. We should increasingly depend on objective economic ' machinery and on realistic practical considerations to manage

the national market within the framework of vigilant and sober social control .

Third:

We should not allow the inconveniences of diffic

ulties and crises to lead us towards belittling our achievements, despair in our abilities and loss of confidence in ourselves and our country.

We should

be careful not to be driven to give

up our views or abandon our positions, we should not lose the

positive and constructive approach or give way to negative and destructive attitudes . We should be wary of inconsistency and hesitancy. Fourth :

Facing problems and crises is facing oneself, acc

epting sacrifice and self denial; that could only be achieved th

Tough setting the example confidence and hope. The people have to be convinced that they struggle for their own benefit

15

and the benefit of the country and all its population , not for the

benefit of a monopolizing minority or privileged landlords. It is imperative that allpeople recognize the integrity ofthe state and its administration and the efficiency of its institutions.

All people should be witness to the fact that we deplore the unjust saying; “ To take from those who do not have and give to those who have” only finds our contempt. Fifth : We will exert our utmost effort to spread and con

solidate democracy and participation by strengthening its insti tutions, systems and tradition . We shall not allow destructive or negative attitudes to prevail. We should make known the facts

about the economy, collect, scrutinize and analyse the informa tion, data and statistics relating to it .

It is necessary that the coalescent forces take charge of defending their rights and achievements and make sure that the economic strategy is a true expression of their objectives

and interests ; that is the only way to secure understanding, col laboration and support . We have to give the issue of Socialist Renewal its deserved

In the first place, we have to agree that principles of so cialismfossilised are not iron cast and that its application does not fit into

care.

fixed

forms.

The issue of Socialist Renewal can be

described as the renewal of the structures, the institutions, the

methods, the tools and policies to attain the exemplary socialist application and to achieve the best socialist solutions for social problems.

The first issue of importance and urgency in the Socialist Renewal is the reform and renewal of the public institutions. The following basic principles shall govern reform and renewal.

First: Emphasize the leading role of the } public sector in economic and social development by :

( 1) Ensuring that its public corporations control the econ omic policy and the objectives of investment program mes ; and intervene to correct the mechanisms of the national market .

( 2) Recognizing it as the only invester in the economic infra

structure, the only national partner in the petroleum industry and the major invester in mineral resources.

16

(3) Make the major production investments in irrigated agricullture, basic industries and tourism.

(4) Controlling the banking system and being a major part cipant in banking and foreign trade operations.

(5) Its being the only invester in the field of services and social and cultural activities.

Second : Ensuring that profit should not be the only yard stick for evaluating the returns of public property. We believe that property and loss should not be the only evaluation method

of our projects; we should not ignore the economic and social impact of public investment , nor the duties shouldered by public property in achieving the democratic socialist transformation. Nor

should we ignore the fact that public property corporations and projects are committed to the public interest and to abiding by the law and legal methods regardless of the temptation of profitability. Economic and social benefits are no justification

however for all kinds of losses, bankruptcy and shortcomings.. So cialism and public ownership on the other hand are no excuse for

public money, deterioration of production or the prevalence of unemployment in the public service. Third : The Reform Programme should consider the follow ing basic issues :

a)

Reform of the financial structures of public corporations, companies and projects in such a way that they are not crippled by excessive indebtedness , shortage of produc

tion funds and gaps in investment financing. b)

Renewal of the systems and instructions to give the projects flexible systems and structural efficiency and ability to manoeuver.

c)

Formulation and implementation of a comprehensive programme for the rehabilitation, and maintenance of

machinery, equipment, institutions and easing of produc tion bottle-necks .

d)

Formulation and implementation of comprehensive training prgrammes in sciences and techniques of sound administration as well as in all kinds of vital know

ledge and skills and whatever is necessary for promoting of administrative and technical performance; and streng

thening the training, research and studies institute s.

17

(e) Innovation of profit sharing systems , and methods of relating production to the levels of incentives, and re ward to the public sector employees; and giving those employees real opportunities to participate in the

development and promotion of production.

(f) Termination of the negative policies unjustto the public sector such as unrealistic unfair costing of its products or crowding it with unproductive manpower.

(g) Accordingly, we do not intend , in our plans and pro grammes, to liquidate, paralyse or weaken the public But if we find it advisable to get rid of un sector . productive units, that should not be construed as liqui dation or weakening

the

public

sector ;

but as

restructuring , consolidation and stabilization . (h) At this juncture we may dwell a little on the banking system which is the public sector

institution that has

the greatest influence on the economy. First : It is necessary that the Central Bank tighten its

control on the banking operations of all other banks so that there will be no infringement of the set credit policies or any danger of misusing the foreign currency earning of exports. Second : The Central Bank should formulate the rules and set the procedures whereby foreign and private banks are to finance short and medium-term investments, and participate

in the importation of strategic and essential commodities. Third : The share of the nationalized banks in the volume

of exports , except cotton , should be immediately rectified. Fourth : To formulate a programme for the settlement of the accumulated loan to the nationalized commercial banks

by the public sector. Fifth : Specialized banks to play a leading role in expanding our production capacity by financing cooperative production projects and small farmers, light industries, crafts and profes sions projects. Therefore, it is necessary to concentrate on

small scale projects and the development of small , rural and traditional industries, crafts and economic services projects, small agricultural schemes and to provide for the needs of small producers.

18

The Real Estate Bank should cater for popular and economic

housing schemes and the financing of cooperative housing pro jects. Thus we have to provide the necessary means for increased

capital of the specialized banks and to improve their chances for getting investment loans from regional and international inst itutions.

Sixth.To free the national banking system gradually of usurious operations. Till then but without disturbing bank ope rations , the practice of taking usurious interest rates on personal loans, as well as interest on

frozen

interest , and

interest

that exceeds the sum of capital, such practices are to be immed ately terminated. These operations are the worst kind of usury ; and being the most exploitative of need and destitution their complete eradication is called for. Second

the

issues of

Socialist Renewal is the revival of

the Cooperative Movement . It is to be considered the economic and social framework for the development of the small production units, and expanding its production base that employs millions

of the productive labour force all over the country; and to become the spear-head of reviving rural development and developing hand icrafts and traditional cottage industries on the following basis:

a)

To free the cooperative movement of exploitation by the influence of vested interests which infringes upon the fundamental basis of cooperative ownership, to stren gthen democracy and participation in running it .

b)

c)

Concentrating on the revival of the productive coopera tive and expansion of the sphere of their activities in agriculture, industry, housing, transport, crafts , econo mic, social and cultural services and provision of inputs and marketing techniques. Providing financing by non -usurious and non -exploiting methods as well as providing technical, administrative

and organisational marketing expert assistance to the cooperative institutions and projects. The Third issue in the Socialist Renewal is the protection of the country's major public and private industrial ventures against the adverse effects of the devaluation of the Sudanese pound on the cost of these ventures in foreign debts and to solve the pro blems of their debts to the banking system on the following basis : To consider the comprehensivereform of the financial struc tures and organs of these projects by considering :

19

a) Transformation of the concerned eompanies' debt into shares in their capital to be settled by the government

according to the conditions to be negotiated. b)

Consideration of the means of augmenting the capital of those companies and institutions by tapping new local and external resources .

c)

Consideration of how to resolve the problems of the ne gative effects of the successive devaluation of the Su

danese pound on the external investment debts of the concerned companies and institutions in both private and public sectors.

d)

Seeking long-term loans from regional and international institutions for the reform of financial organs and for

implementation of investments in renewal, substitution, rehabilitation and to ease the bottlenecks in all pro jects.

As all investment belongs to the whole country; and for the sake of justice and objectivity, it is our duty to bear the responsi bilities for its salvation and revitalization .

The Fourth issue in the Socialist Renewal is that of prices and incomes.

Experience has proven that there is a detrimental

effect in subsidizing consumption at the expense of production. Therefore, we have to exert continuous efforts to protect the agri cultural incomes against the unfair pricing of agricultural crops

and against instability in world prices and falling demand. We have to develop the system of stabilization funds and government

intervention to protect local prices against collapse. We should continue our enlightened efforts in support of the new production

relations in fairness to both production and producers . New systems to be formulated implemented through relating the labour income to production levels with the added benefits of profit sharing

Increased wages should not pressures on price levels , and measures for combating inflation , be applied in the control of price

lead to negative inflationary in addition to the economic the following methods should levels :

( 1 ) Expanding the commodity importation system of exter nal economic cooperation to guarantee the flow of agri cultural and industrial inputs ; and giving at : olute

priority in foreign trade policy and bank credits and allotment of foreign resources to the strategic commo

dities necessary for production and consumption.

20

(2) Realistic and flexible costing of goods and services and abandoning unfair methods of control.

(3) Consolidalion of the role of the cooperatives in external and internal trade .

(4) Using public sector commercial units as the economic

means of controlling the economics and mechanism of the market either by concentrating on trade in popular goods or by prices control as well as facilities for the consumer.

The Fifth issue in the Socialist Renewal is rural development programmes , and the transfer of more resources and investments

to water resources, the development of soil conservation, pastures

and forests development, provision of improved seeds and pro duction inputs, pest control , intensification of technical assis tance and extension services, promotion of veterinary services

and provision of vaccines, and traditional industries, develop ment of low cost building and construction models that suit our environment , of economic, social and administrative structures

necessary to promote the basic social services, such as water,

electricity, health and popular culture. Thus , the rural development issue is the key to the economic and social progress of the millions of our population ; and to the integration of the rural sector into the activities of development and national revival .

OBJECTIVES OF THE ECONOMIC STRATEGY

Accordingly the objectives of our economic strategy shall be :

First : Re-establishment of the internal financial equili

brium ; by controlling the deficit in the general budget, and controlling public corporation and institutions' deficits ; and by controlling the levels and utilization of bank credits and deficit financing Second : Re-establishment of the external financial equili brium to manage the balance of payments deficit and foreign account payments arrears. Third : Removal from the economic atmosphere of all econ

omic distortions , irregular dealings and obstacles to growth and

development so that the country's economic administration shall enjoy an atmosphere of efficiency, promptness, integrity and clarity. The chance to grow should not be channelled to parasitic and unproductive activities , but to the potential and untapped honest capabilities of the national economy.

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Fourth : Acceleration of the economic and social develop

ment programmes which are consonant with the requirements of stabilization and re-establishment of equilibrium , exemplary utilization of resources and capacities, the decisive review of

sectoral and national priorities without abandoning the specia lities of the national model of development which is based on

justice, social consciousness and the linkage between authen ticity and renewal.

Fifth : Adoption of short-term programmes to face emer gencies and unforeseen shortages . METHODS AND TOOLS OF THE ECONOMIC STRATEGY

To achieve those goals, it is imperative to formulate and adopt a coherent and supportive number of tools, programmes, policies and procedures in the fields of fiscal and credit policies,

the rate of foreign exchange policies , the external trade policies, the international economic cooperation policies, development and investment policies, and in the rules of dealing with Sudanese nationals working abroad. We shall discuss each of these tools and methods in details. 1.

Fiscal Policy :

The economic strategy requires the following : ( 1 ) Financing of public expenditures, especially com mercial operations, from real resources, as government

expenditure that depends on deficit financing had the most dangerous effect on prices levels, the inevitable result of which was explosive inflation and high cost of living. It is necessary to reduce deficit financing till it is ultimately eradicated.

(2) Budgetary policy, in the assessment of its revenues and expenditures, shall take into consideration that its ob jective is the realization of the planned economic and social goals; not the surplus in revenues or reduction of expenditure. Accordingly, the customs policies should, in the first place, ecourage exports and limit the im

ports of luxury consumption goods and promotion of the productive capacity of the country. The taxation policy should be directed towards achieving social justice, redistribution of incomes and encouragement of savings and investments. Expenditure policies should aim at the promotion of public services and development of production. The accounting balance in the budget is

valueless unless its policy directives are sound and balanced .

22

( 3) Budgetary policy should endeavour to create a real sur plus to be directed towards investments , substitution and renewal ; that is because consumption of all the re

sources leads to the depletion of what we have at present and fails to meet future reqirements. 2. In Credit

Policy :

The economic strategy calls for the management of money

supply in the national economy by controlling bank credits, quanti tatively and qualitatively, toall economic sectors, whether they are governmental, public corporations or private. We should: (1) Maintain the harmony between production growth and money supply growth so that the gap between demand and supply does not widen and create inflation and price increases.

(2) Limit borrowing to the productive sectors and deny it to speculators and parasites in order that the banking system plays its role in the development of production and revitalization of the economy.

(3) Provide soft term financing to the sectors of traditional farming, craftsmen and small scale industries. 3.

In Exchange Rate Policy :

Foreign exchange policy should adopt a realistic rate for the national currency against foreign currencies. An over-valued Sudanese pound reduces the national currency earnings of exports and at the same time leads to low-price imports. The inevitable result is the fall in exports and accordingly the fall in national

production and an increasing consumption of foreign imports. to An unrealsitic rate of exchange of the national currency leads

irregular methods of arriving at the real value of the currency , such as what we know as NIL VALUE imports, smuggling of

exports and linking the transfers by Sudanese nationals working abroad to customs exemptions. But it is necessary that a num ber of procedures should be enacted to deal with the negative effects of the sharp devaluation of the national currency and to

attain a stable level of internal prices and production costs. The only way to realise that is to fix realistic prices for imported

goods, to strike a balance between consumption and the resources of the country . 4. Internal and External Trade Policy :

Success of the economic strategy requires following a new and suitable internal and external trade crop marketing policy that creates incentives for production, promotes exports and provides an abundant supply of commodities by the following methods :

23

First :

Adoption of a realistic prices policy for agricul tural crops that gives farmers a fair share in the fruit of their labour . Government should interfere to

protect farmers from the instability of prices and stagnation in the international market . Govern ment should adopt the means and regulations that

guarantee the return to farmers of agricultural export profits as well as the benefits of the new rate of exchange.

Second : Exports, especially those with less ability to com pete in the interntional market, should be supported by some form of tax exemption.

Third : Cancellation of all irregular commercial systems and rejection of the restrictive payments methods ; and can cellation of all the symptoms of monopoly in external trade in favour of the expansion of an open licenses system ; and preserva-. tion of the free movement of goods, uniformity in the national market and the removal from the distribution channels of bure

aucratic controls and unfair pricing systems.

Fourth : Expansion of the system of commodity imports. n international economic cooperation .

Fifth : Maintaining a strategic reserve of basic food crops. as a means of price control to guarantee provision of basic needs.

Also to maintain a commercial reserve and a gradual

build up of a reserve of strategic commodities such as petroleum and petroleum products. Sixth : The optimum utilization of the commercial units. in the public sector to control prices and safegard provisions in the national markets.

Seventh : Establishment of a national council for export promotion to be responsible for what relates to the development of external marketing, marketing of Sudanese products, moni toring of world markets , strengthening the methods of control ling the quality of Sudanese crops , fixing the minimum crop prices, formulating export policies, establishing price stabiliza

tion funds and protecting agriculture from

instability and

stagnation.

5. Short -term Programme for Emergency Situations Our economic strategy should be sufficiently flexible to be

able, in the case of emergency situations and disasters, to face them with

urgent

and

prompt procedures and short-term

24

programmes, whether in the field of production and services or provisions and life sustenance. We should always be prepared to face bottle-necks and shortages without losing our heads ;

and without giving a chance for the attacks aimed at undermin ing our ranks and the disintegration of our country . At the same time we should not let grave responsibilities divert our

attention from problems and difficulties affecting the lives of our fellow citizens.

6. International Cooperation Policy :

Due emphasis on cooperation with friendly and sister coun tries, to regional and international institutions, is vital in facing

the challenges of development. A national fund for financing a stock of commercial and strategic basic commodities to meet crises and emergency situations should be established by a levy on speciality goods. The international cooperation we seek is that of comple mentarity of the resources and capabilities of the developed and

developing countries for their mutual benefit . Cooperation must be based on joint investment and shared

return,

on the

objective understanding of the role of international development to meet the needs of the developing countries and solve the pro blems of recession and unemployment in the developed countries . The international cooperation strategy in the Third Mandate shall be based on the following five pillars : First : Acquiring a direct balance of payments support to ensure provision of the basic commodities and increase the rate of investments in development . Second : In pursuit of reducing the pressure on foreign pay menss , indirect measures of supporting the balance of payments such as commodity importation programmes, rescheduling of foreign debts and self financing of external trade should be under taken .

Third : Strengthening the policies of financing development

programmes which will raise production efficiency, by removing bottle-necks

and

strengthening the factors of production.

Fourth : Concentrating on economic infrastructure pro

jects and rehabilitating public utilities through developing, renewing and mantaining them . Fifth : Seek the best and safest conditions of foreign financ ing .

25

It has been explained in detail that self-help precedes re questing help from kinsmen and friends. Thus , to overcome the

difficulties of the coming few years, the Sudan shall first explore the means of its own sons before seeking assistance from others. Therefore, we shall issue treasury bills to the value of one billion

American dollars for the Sudanese nationals resident and working abroad .

It shall be arranged that holders of those bills shall

gain an Islamic profit in addition to the honour of contribution and generous participation in national endeavour.

We expect that the loyal sons and daughters of the Sudan will hurry to repay their nation's debt and return their people's favours. They should set the example by demonstrating Sudan's

ability and self-reliance; and that its children are always loyal and ready to help. 7.

Development and Investment Policy :

We shall proceed in the long way of development and invest ment with unwavering determination to achieve the take off stage by adding new developmental monuments, strengthening and

stabilizing the utilities, institutions and productive capabilities we have acquired as effective instruments prosperity.

for abundance and

In the Third Mandate there shall be successive investment

programmes complementing the Third Three Year Investment Programme and in implementation of the Fourth Programme. They shall also be the start of the Fifth Three Year Programme. In the first two years of the Third Mandate we shall concen Year Programme for which investments have been set at Ls. 1.6 billion; and with

Third trate on implementing the Third

Three

the aim of : 1.

Realising, during the years of the programme, a 4 % rate of growth in the gross national product .

2.

Completion of projects under construction to bring them to the production stage.

3.

Rehabilitation of the existing production projects in both the agricultural and industrial sectors with the aim of raising their production capacities .

4.

Raising the level of output of the productive capacities of all the sectors of the national economy.

5.

Growth in the value of exports and efficient import Substitution .

26

6.

Strengthening and expanding of the infrastructure to serve production and the national economy. A greater attraction of the private sector's efforts to 7. development and production operations by creating the right atmosphere and direction for investment. Raising the rate of national resources exploitation es 8. pecially in the field of petroleum and other minerals. We envisage that the implementation of this programme shall be followed by structural changes in the national economy

which will progressively advance and renew its developmental capacities. This structural change shall be based on the following essen tial considerations : First :

Exploration of Petroleum .

Implementation of the country's largest economic

invest

ment by developing the petroleum fields and its commercial ex ploitation and investing its earnings in developing the productive sector's renewable resources and by exploiting mineral resources. Second : The Agricultural Sector and Rural Development The agricultural sector shall be the focus of economic deve lopment and the driving force of development take-off. During the current period we shall completely remove the basic distor

tions in the formation of the agricultural economy; and achieve integration and harmony in its numerous sub sectors of irrigated, mechanized, rain-fed and traditional agriculture, as well as in animal hubandry, fisheries, pastures and forestry.

We shall develop the economic, technical and adminis trative organs necessary for increasing investment in agriculture, such as research, financing, marketing, quality control, pest control and seed production . We shall at the same time develop the infrastructure for agricultural schemes; maintenance, rehabilitation and renewal projects and put an end to the deterioration of land resources, pastures, forests, indiscriminate grazing and unauthorized land distribution .

We shall increase the volume and variety of our agricul tural exports to include by the end of the Third Mandate, exports of fodder, tobacco, tropical crops and rain -grown cotton. We aim to be major exporters of meat , fruits and vegetables. For that purpose a council for the promotion and development of national exports, especially agricultural exports, shall be establis hed.

27

The period of the Third Mandate shall witness the consoliº

dation and electrification of pump schemes in the Blue and White Nile areas.

It shall witness the beginning

of

commercial

investment in tobacco, tea , coffee and wood and the production promotion of mixed crops, the execution of different projects in existing agricultural schemes. We shall continue adaptation

and application of research for introducing new agricultural crops with a view to diversification and better utilization of re sources .

We shall study the establishment of a high council for national resources to be responsible for research and long

term studies and methods of optimum exploitation, agricultural systems, land distribution , maintenance and development of renewable resources . Rural development shall be one of the basic needs for deve

lopment and agricultural production on the basis of : ( 1) Narrowing the gap between rural and urban sectors, by giving due priority and support to rural development

when formulating the national development plan. That requires the ranking of development-priorities with greater emphasis on the sector for traditional agricul ture.

(2) Establishment of regional planning organs which are

capable of identifying, formulating, analysing, follow ing-up and appraising the integrated rural development projects . Those organs shall be strengthened with the required qualified and trained cadres capable of per forming their prescribed tasks with full authorization.

( 3) Creation of a central coordination organ for integrated rural development to assist the regional organs in the formulation of their programmes within the national goals, to coordinate their activities, to mobilize the necessary financial resources from foreign aid and to

find the formulae of integrating national and regional programmes.

(4) Encouragement of adaptation research and the develop ment of integrated agricultural systems in the fields of integrated rural development, by the creation of communication channels between the national and

international research and planning institutions and development activities at the regional levels. This will link the research programme to the needs and pri orities of the regions.

28

(5) Giving due attention to training with the aim of res ponding to the requirements of planning and implem enting rural development programmes. These are the different specializatiɔns, leading to a spirit of team work and integrated collective endeavour. This is to be accompanied by directing training programmes towards satisfying the needs of the regions for high calibre expertise, information and data at the regional and national level . The planning organs which

will undertake that task should give due attention to this matter and utilize the data for that

purpose and

seek its completion . Third : The Industry

Sector

The industrial development strategy shall be based on the following : ( 1) Correction of the financial structures of the corporations and companies of the industrial sector and solving their problems of supplies and debt accumulation . (2) Realization of a structural inter-link in the industrial sector by the development of intermediate goods pro

jects, spare parts and secondary industries; and by deve loping the economic linkage between the industrial, agricultural and other production sectors in order that industrial production shall be established on the develop ment of the national resources.

(3) Adoption of the necessary measures for the protection of industry against unfair competition and against dum ping.

(4) Giving due importance to the rural and small scale in dustries .

(5) Concentration on the vertical development substitution , renewal and reconstruction projects and the removal of bottle - necks in the existing industries . (6) Planning for the establishment of new industries on the

basis of comparative advantage and capability of compet ing in the export markets. (7) Strengthening of the training institutions and consulta ative departments and the introduction of modern man agement systems.

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Fourth :

Infrastructures

The Third Mandate era shall witness basic investment in

the fields of infrastructures, institutions, transport , storage , com munication, alternative energy sources and economic and social structures .

Fifth :

Social Development

Proceeding on the implementation of social and cultural development projects as explained in the social development section .

8. Policy regarding Sudanese Nationals Working Abroad : ( SNWA)

It is deemed necessary to provide the Sudanese nationals

working abroad with the means of participating in building our country. We can do that through the innovation of policies, rules and procedures which will guarantee that their participa tion and effective role will be in harmony with our national pro duction and investment programmes .

It is not enough only to call on the nationalist feelings of the SNWA to attract their savings. Their loyalty is beyond doubt, but these savings should be considered an important part of our financial resources which we can utilize bearing in

mind their individual circumstances, the nature of the fields for investment , and the type of incentive that could attract them .

Our policy towards the Sudanese expatriates can be outlined as :

First : Consolidation of the policy of free entry and exit of their foreign currency savings.

Second : Adoption of a realistic rate of exchange policy of transfers of those savings.

Third : The guarantee of realizing the profitable earnings of deposits and savings on the basis of the Islamic profit. It is certain that our sons and daughters working abroad will not accept being treated in a special way that distinguishes . them from their resident fellow citizens ; and it is no wonder that these citizens look forward to the repayment by these ex

patriates of the debt and favours which their country has best owed upon them .

30

CHAPTER III

Social Policies

Housing and Urban Renewal. Medical Care and Social Services. General Education .

Scientific Research .

Employment, Training and Immigration. Culture and Information .

Youth and Sports.

31

Fellow Countrymen , One of the most remarkable achievements of May Revolution

is the promotion of the political action from one of slogans, spee ches and false promises to one of welfare of the people based on planning, programming and incontestable figures. Our aim is to bring about global development which gives our national inde pendence its real meaning. Conscious of the fact that national development cannot but be achieved through the integration of the nation's material and moral abilities, the Revolution adop ted this realistic approach as a cornerstone of its policies. Thus we have subjected all the structures of our development programmes in our new society to the service of the Sudanese

citizen with a view to developing his urban and rural environment by long term planning to satisfy all his needs for housing

and public utilities ; to initiate nation -wide medical care pro

grammes; to promote the citizen's mental capabilities through the Revolution's programmes to make general education avail able to all and to expand high education ; to improve the skills of the citizens by training and retraining so as to put these skills to efficient utilization ; to promote their intellects through the mass-media ; to enrich their spiritual life through religious gui dance programmes and youth care . All these indicate that

the primordial concern of our development is the Sudanese citizen and that all the efforts of the Revolution are directed towards

the development of his social and cultural life. For the Revolution is both the maker and the beneficiary of change. ?

The achievements of the Revolution in all these domains

are a fore- runner of yet more important achievements for which

the grounds have been prepared. We will thus concentrate all our efforts during the third Mandate to support and stabilize what has so far been achieved, and then to proceed to develop

and promote the same through a comprehensive national plan for

social and" cultural development whose basic outlines are as follows : Housing and Urban Renewal The orientation towards the rural areas, which was

from

the beginning the centre of attention of the Revolution proved to be the most enlightened policy to strike a balance in the

development of rural as well as urban areas . This policy necessitated the diversion of most of our resources to develop the different provinces of the country. The rural areas will continue to receive more and more attention in the years to come

Þecause they are the back-bone of our development and the source of our national wealth. Now that we have gone a long way in maintaining the balance in development between rural and urban areas we will redirect some of the effort to the urban

32

renewal in the national capital as well as in the provincial capitals and the major cities of the country which have been affected in one way or another by the development projects. As a result, these cities stand in great need of special attention to help them resolve the problems which have stemmed from the enormous expansion in services while the material means afford ed them have remained very meagre .

Our strategy for housing in the next phase of our develop

ment will remain the same as in the previous one i.e. to provide our citizens with decent housing through a global construction

plan for the whole country . The plan will take into consideration the suitability of the architectural models to our environment. reduced by using local building

Construction costs will be

materials and by employing the right technological means. Needless to say, a sound housing plan has to be implemented in such a manner as to avoid unecessary expenditure and squander ing of resources while preserving the beauty and simplicity of the models. This approach will necessitate advanced building research and development of local building materials. To effectively implement our housing policies we will resort to new methods commensurate with the size of the chronic hou sing problems facing us and the determination of the Revolution to resolve them . Our efforts will thus be directed to implement the following eight points :

( 1) To encourage government departments, corporations. and companies to make housing available for their

employees through phased housing plans and for that end the government will offer them landplots as well as material means for construction,

;

(2) To encourage cooperative housing by affording them the necessary government facilities.

( 3) To encourage the corporations and companies in the private sector to construct medium and popular houses by affording them loans, facilities and duty free materials which will make investment in this field

profitable to them (4) To transform the Real Estate Bank into a popular Bank .

(5) To follow an enlightened policy in granting land plots so as to properly serve the above-mentioned purposes. It is to be strictly observed that those who do not own

33

houses have the absolute right in getting plots specially in their own native towns. This new policy will, more over, help to eliminate profiteering practices in plots of land granted by government. Expert technical advice will be offered to members of the public who will wish to construct their houses in accordance with the inex

pensive architectural models.

(6) To create not only pockets of housing within the perim eters of cities, but also satellite towns in the suburbs of the major cities and to provide them with all the nec essary services, social and otherwise.

(7) This policy will not be confined to the major cities and towns. It will include planning and construction of model villages which will be in complete harmony with local tradition and culture .

(8) Government houses will gradually be turned into coll ective housing units as well as units for social services such as hospitals, cultural and labour centres. As for the urban renewal of the national capital and the

major cities, we will have a quick recovery programme for which we will ear-mark funds for the construction , renewal and main tenance of roads and the development of water resources and the supply of additional drinking water in the capital as well as the provinces. The programme will also endeavour to complete and rehabilitate our sewage system and at the same time make the necessary technical studies to introduce sewage services in

the regional capitals. Other plans are underway to improve our national electricity network . We will seek ways and means to

resolve public transport problems in the national capital by intro ducing collective transportation vehicles with special emphasis on students ' transportation to and from their schools. More

attention will be given to public parks and to the expansion of recreational and cultural centres. We will also deploy more

efforts to stop immigration to the capital and major cities. Security organs will be consolidated to ensure the safety of the citizens and their property. All these measures will necessarily call for the reorganization of the administrative organs with a view to increase their efficiency in implementing this programme. Medical Care and Social Services :

We will continue our efforts to implement the medical care

programme which aims, among other things, to multiply the number of small clinics as well as public and private civil hos pitals. The essence of this programme is the preservation of a

34

hygienic and clean environment through public campaigns, combat of endemic diseases as well as the financial support in the form of self-help which our people willingly accorded to similar pro grammes. We thus hope to achieve the following goals : ( 1 ) To raise the number of medical units from one unit per three thousand citizens which we already achieved dur

ing the Second Mandate to one unit per one thousand. (2) Vertical consolidation of the medical services by increas ing the number of medical specializations and to remedy the collapse of auxilliary medical services by providing them with laboratories and modern technical equip ment ; providing funds for the maintenance and clean

ing of hospitals; to raise bed patient proportion from one bed for every three thousand to three beds for the same number. Moreover, we will endeavour to fulfil the commitments of this programme by gradually generalizing the medical insurance system starting in the capitals. Arrangements will also be made to pro vide medical services for those sectors

which could

incur the costs of medication , and in this regard we

will accord all possible facilities to public corporations and private companies so that they share this burden with government.

( 3) With respect to mother and child care, the programme includes specific measures to train and make available a sufficient number of midwives. Expectant mothers will find the necessary medical attendance as well as the proper nutrition and advice throughout pregnancy. Wewill generalize vaccination against dangerous diseases such as polio and diphtheria for all children during the first year after birth . (4) Improvement of medical services in schools. (5) To deploy more effort to eradicate endemic diseases such as malaria, sleeping sickness, and Jure blindness. (6 ) To ensure the availability of essential medicaments and to encourage their importation in big quantities. We

will also encourage the manufacture of medicine in the country.

(7) To support the social action programme and to closely associate it with the national economic development programme in order to avoid the negative social effects of progress .

35

1 General Education :

The major expansion in public education which brought the number of students during the first and second Mandates to about two million falls short of the target set by the Revolution

to generalize primary education by the end of the eighties . We will therefore deploy more efforts during the third Mandate to

bring about more expansion in this field taking into account the following considerations : ( 1 ) To strike a balance between the expansion in education and the consolidation of existing educational institu tions. This balance could be achieved through a phased programme which would guarantee the

maintenance of buildings, the improvement of services in schools and in all the related institutions be it for

health or nutrition .

The central government will join

hands with the regional governments, the school staffs,

the students and parents councils in order to effectively implement this programme .

(2) To concentrate on a generalized system of primary education while reducing the rate of expansion at both intermediate and secondary levels, making use at the same time of other educational channels such

as

Quranic Schools, two stream schools, rotational intake schools, single teacher schools and multi-purpose schools at the secondary level.

(3) To effect structural changes in the educational system

with a view to eliminating drop-outs.

To expand in

the establishment of vocational and occupational train

ing centres and the construction of technical schools. In this connection it is important to draw attention to the relative deterioration in educational activities and

related curricula. We therefore need special effort on the part of government to bring about the necessary rectifications with the full backing and financial sup port of the parents.

( 4) The gap between academic and technical education is still very wide. Hence the absolute necessity to implement firmly the national plan for expansion in technical education , to bridge that gap and to ensure

complete flow from technical schools to university education .

- 36

(5) To ensure the teachers' interests and to attend to their

problems ; to establish more teacher training colleges especially for intermediate and secondary technical levels in order to eliminate shortages in trained tea chers.

(6) To deploy more efforts to eradicate illiteracy which constitutes a socio- political problem , and to initiate new methods to achieve the goals set by the Re volution in this domain .

Higher Education :

The Revolution attaches tremendous importance to higher education as an essential element for progress. That is why

higher education has been given top priority in all our plans and programmes. As higher education has so much impact on our development, it is imperative that universities and higher institutes should bring about the proper co-ordination between their research and educational programmes, the quality

of their graduates and the national requirements for develop ment without prejudice to their academic independence. With this progressive understanding of the role of universities in the

national development process, we will continue to establish more universities and higher institutes in the different regions of the

Sudan while keeping in mind the following considerations : ( 1 ) Though the universities and higher institutes are national institutions with full academic independence, they are not isolated islands .

As a matter of fact they

are effective instruments with which national goals could be

attained.

As such, universities and higher

institutes are expected to participate fully and deci sively in all the stages of our national development (2) In order to accomplish their mission, higher education institutions, old and new alike, have to have a close association with their milieu . They are, moreover,

required to develop national resources and culture and to foster national unity.

(3) Strict adherence to the national plan for expansion in technical education and to open new avenues for stu dents to specialize in the different branches of technical

knowledge must be observed . (4) We must endeavour to reduce the cost of higher educ ation in such a way as to be more compatible with our financial means. We will have to cut expenditure in

areas which are least related to the functions of higher

- 37

education ; facilities such as hostels which swallow up

to 30 % of the funds while scientific research is barely left with 1 % This imbalance has to be redressed by innovating new methods to lessen expenditure and to increase resources. The problem of housing and feeding has to be drastically solved by converting the existing boarding housesinto proper university campuses which should be constructed through central and reg ional governments contributions and should be managed in such a manner as to ensure the students' welfare and

comfort and to guarantee more revenue for universities . (5) With the mounting number of universities and high institutes a new approach for coordination and cooper ation has to be sought. (6 ) Higher education institutions are the symbol of our national originality and for that reason our national language should have its prominence as a teaching language.

It is therefore imperative that during the third Mandate the universities and high institutes should lay a plan for the Arabicisation of curricula and to implement it forthwith . On the other hand we will establish an Arabic

language institute for its proper teaching in the Sudan . Scientific Research :

One of the main objectives of our programme for the est ablishment of the modern state of science and technology, to

which the government is committed, is the promotion of scient the forthcoming Mandate we will concentrate ific research. Duringfollowing our efforts on the

:

( 1 ) We will put more emphasis on scientific research which deals with the problems which face our country. Accordingly, a priority list for scientific research should

be established ." We will also pool resources in the in stitutes and departments for that purpose, and will earmark the necessary funds.

(2) We will endeavour to raise the efficiency of the civil

service and public administration by introducing new methods of modern science in statistics and analysis of information by computers.

38

(3) We will seek to adapt modern technology to the require ments of our society and to make use of our local re sources in order to establish a medium type of tech nology which will help us avoid the drawbacks of the expensive kind of industrialization from which the industrial countries now suffer.

(4) We will lay plans to ensure the full contribution of scien tists, scientific institutions and specialized scientific societies in raising productivity. (5 ) We will lay emphasis on the role of scientific research

and field studies in exploring our national resources and in exploiting them for economic and social deve lopment . Employment, Training and Immigration :

National development requires close association with the policies of education, training, employment and immigration so as to serve the purposes of productivity without prejudice to the right of the citizen to ehoose his own calling. In order to achieve that goal we have to adopt the following policies : ( 1 ) To assess the labour force in the country and to lay plans for the proper training of that force in such a manner as to suit our development and to establish a supreme council to develop our human resources and to coordinate the functions of education, training and employment institutions.

(2) To expand the institutions concerned with training whether in job training or otherwise. To lay more

emphasis on the training of the drop-outs and to retrain surplus labour for productive employment in govern ment which is another form of disguised unemployment. To achieve this goal we have to make use of the resources at the disposal of public and private corporations and the People's Armed Forces for occupational and voca tional training

(3) To initiate a new policy for employment which will

enable employers to recruit productive elements and to ensure at the same time the employment of the re

trained surplus labour where it is needed most. (4) To find effective solutions to the problems of immig ration and emigration and to assess the need of the country for productive employment and the needs of

39

immigration . And in this connection we will pursue the following policies : (a) To check internal immigration towards the urban centres by creating the proper conditions which will encourage the citizens to remain in the pro

vinces, while laying programmes for training in rural occupations which will make urban centres less attractive.

( b) To regulate immigration in such a manner as to stop the drain of our cadres whose contribution

in our development plans is of primordial impor

tance. Trained surplus labour will be allowed to immigrate and to compete effectively in labour markets in the region . Negotiations with the re

cipient countries will be undertaken to get the best employment conditions for our immigrant labour.

(c) To check unproductive foreign immigrants who infiltrate the country illegally and who constitute a heavy burden on our resources. Administra tive measures will be taken to stop the future access of such immigrants to the Sudan and to seek agreements with the countries concerned to repatriate their nationals who entered the Sudan

illegally. As for refugees, the government of the Sudan will do its best to make their stay in the as agreeable as possible. To achieve that goal the Sudan will seek assistance from the United

count

Nations and its specialized agencies. Ral of Cultura anl Information :

Mass-media have a prominent role to play in the new era of the Revolution. Their role transcends the mere dissemination of information to the profound enlightenment of the masses on the urgent problems of the country as related to global problems

of the world. Thus the mass-media organs will contribute, together with the educational and social orientation institutions, to the shaping of the national personality of the Sudanese citizen .

It is, therefore , obvious that these organs will not carry out their functions properly unless they deal with the problems of the country in a revolutionary perspective and take advantage of the freedoms guaranteed by the Revolution to serve the purposes of national development. To enable these organs to function u lly the following measures will be taken :

40

( 1 ) To modernize the information organs by introducing pow

erful broadcasting and television diffusion equipment: To raise the efficiency of the information organs in general to enable them to serve effectively our national

objectives. Special attention will be given to dissemina ation of information about the Sudan in foreign countries .

(2) To transform the present naive system of information into an intelligent instrument to enlighten the citizen and to put specialized information at his disposal. (3) To establish more cultural centres, public libraries, theatres and cinema houses. More attention will be

given to the museums and we will establish new speciali zed ones to safeguard our national heritage. We will give facilities for the importation of cultural materials.

(4) To encourage the publication of booksand the specialized research of universities and research centres. Material

support will be given by the state to the research ins titutions .

(5) To cultivate the youth in accordance with a well studied national plan.

(6) To ensure the freedom of the press in order to enable writers and journalists to deal with the problems of the country in an honest and courageous manner . This would necessarily open the door for competent journalists who will address themselves to our problems with utmost responsibility and comprehension. They will also be in a position to know that the revelation of our difficulties and drawbacks of our institutions is

not so much hostility toward the regime as it is an att empt to correct the march of the

Revolution . Ours

is not a government press. It belongs to the political organization. We do not impose any kind of censorship on journalists. They exercise their freedom according their

conscience

knowing

well

that

freedom

is a responsibility whose limitations are determined by the law of the land. Both the state and the press are

answerable to the courts of justice. It goes without saying that any person who has been libelled could seek

redress and damages from the courts. (7 ) All this would imply enormous effort on our part to derelop press houses to enable them to publish more dail es, weekly and monthly magazines and to support

41

specialized journals. On the other hand the S.S.U. will

earmark the necessary funds for journalists' training programmes to qualify them for the job. YOUTH AND SPORTS :

We will deploy the necessary effort to meet our obligations towards the satisfaction of the moral and material needs of young

people to enable them to develop their characters. We will provide the necessary funds for youth activities at the centre as well as

in the regions. All this will require concerted efforts from the different departments concerned in order to lay effective plans for the material upbringing of the youth in complete harmony with our creed and dignity.

Sports should be given the chance to play a constructive role in our social life. We will at the same time exalt sports from mere individual competition to public participation with a view

to developing it into “ Sports For All .” Appropriate attention will be given to traditional and environmental sports in associ ation with regional and international sports movements.

42 CHAPTER

IV

THE SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT

The Executive Presidency The Central Government

The People's National Assembly

The National Capital *

Government Decentralization

43

System of Government Executive

Presidency :

Both the May Revolution and its leadership entrusted by popular will and the Armed Forces, were fated to dispense with an accumulated heritage of colonial malpractices, of sectarianism , party political and ethnic differences. The Country was socially and economically backward and the Revolution was called upon

to impose unity in the place of dissent; to stand up to a rampa ging armed conflict sustained by internal and external support. While avoiding more bloodshed, the Revolution had to substit ute a peaceful settlement by meaningful dialogue. Yet it had to restrain the dangers of bloody conflict on sectarian and tribal grounds. Another complex task was to maintain and restore

national unity and yet to safeguard a new -born Revolution aga inst the imminent dangers of a relapse.

A change brought about

and protected by the force of arms had to evolve into a legal entity, constituted and protected by popular consensus.

That is why the establishment of constitutional and exec utive organs has coincided with the signing of the Addis Ababa Agreement. That is why a national referendum has been the pre

lude to the permanent constitution. That had to be further

consolidated by a sole political organization representing the working forces of the people. Fundamental

contradictions between

the aspirations of

the people and the political directive of the leadership of past party politics had to be resolved.

Political affiliations used to be determined by regional or ethnic or sectarian or cultural considerations which are essentially restrictive. The new leadership had to symbolize a more compreh

ensive national will , and to promote political, economic and social development through a truly national approach.

Leadership as such was not an end in itself but a united lead ership will represent the unity of a nation that had outlived con flict and dissent . It had to exercise such powers as would reflect a comprehensive, balanced approach and render major decisions

effectively binding. It had to acquire a long term view that would grasp the past and present implications of any such deci

sion as well as probable future repercussions. The evolution of people's local government into regional go vernment although enjoying wide popular support, had to face deeply entrenched bureaucratic resistance. It was reluctant to delegate its vested powers to let a new theory run its practical

44

course of application. One of the major safeguards against such

resistance is that the new theory of government has received wide popular support, and that trial and error are forgiven if a hard decision taken at a critical juncture is to take root . To evade any of its serious consequences, or to doubt the brave sincer

ity that has prompted its choice would have been an insult to the people. Second : Central Government

Integration of the authority of institutions should replace

their parallelism ; and solidarity between executive leaderships should not be a voluntary commitment but a collective res ponsibility before the People's Assembly. Thus in addition to the Minister's personal responsibility before the Assembly he is also

bound by the collective responsibility of the cabinet before the assembly. The guarantee of cabinet collective

action leads to the

achievement of the following objectives : 1.

Exchange of information and consideration of data in

a joint perspective which assists in coordination of po licies and procedures, practice and performance. 2.

3.

Gathering of forces, mobilization of capabilities and consolidation of capacities. Proving the seriousness of attending to matters, ability

to shoulder responsiblity and trustworthiness. 4.

Most important is the role practiced by the national People's Assembly in the comprehensive supervision and evaluation of the overall performance of the executive organ .

In the new mandate it is required that ways and means as well as procedures be undertaken so that the ministerial responsi bility can be established primarily on the basis of collectivity in order that to the personal constitutional responsibility , there will be

added a form of collective political responsibility before the basic governmental

matters.

It is also necessary that ways, means and procedures be de vised to relieve the national leadership of the cumbersome day

to day details of administration in order that the political, cons titutional and executive institutions fully undertake their res ponsibilities.

45

In the First Mandate the bases were set, and in the Second they were consolidated and prepared for take off, and what has been achieved so far, in spite of the difficulties, cannot be compar

ed with the number of years it has taken to achieve. However the new era of a new mandate requires a new perspective and method. The new mandate requires renewal in planning to

comprehend the magnitude of economic and social change, as well as the analysis and forecast of the future requirements in addition to the economic and social progress to be attained under

the system of regional government. For that purpose the Third Mandate plans include the establishment of a Consultative Council for Planning and Economic policies. This Council will comprise units in the fields of finance, monetary policies, invest ment policy, internal trade and foreign aid . It will be a Council of a political , economic and social nature comprising citizens with qualifications and expertise in the political , economic and social fields rather than the ministries .

One of this council's tasks is

to define the financial relation between the Central and Decen

tralized government and formulate the overall policy of fair sharing of wealth and resources .

The criteria for appointment of the leading executives, inc luding ministers, shall be qualifications, integrity and nati onal commitment . It shall no more be based on family posit

ion, sectarian, tribal or regional prominence. That is because

the progress of the Sudan is the responsibility of all the sons and daughters of the Sudan.

The executive organ of the Third Mandate shall continue as the third branch of the state together with the political and constitutional .

Its role shall be its commitment to the overall

policy that the people have initiated in expression of their needs

and in conformity with the authority of the constitutional or gan .

Third ; the National

People's Assembly :

The People's Assembly's importance emanates from the fact that it is the eyes, the ears and the tongue of those bearing the political and executive responsibility in our country. Its historical role is to enhance the unique Sudanese experi ence, in its comprehensiveness and variation , in its capability and

effectiveness , in its suitability to the Sudanese circumstances and Sudan's legitimate aspirations of increasing progress and in its being a Sudanese added contribution to the world heritage secu

ring and supporting the unity of nations. What is required for the People's Assembly in the Third Mandate is an increased improvement of its prerogatives and practices.

46

( 1) to guarantee freedom of choice, there shall not be any of candidates upon the electorate,

imposition , whatsoever,

(2) to adopt an effective system of performance that ensures the participation of the National Assembly's Committees in the

early preparation of the budgetary policy and its economic and social orientation before the budget is finally brought before the Assembly,

(3) to adopt effective systems and methods that strengthen the Assembly's administrative supervision to enable it to play its effective role in the improvement of performance of organs and remove from the national scene, the impurities of corruption , coercion and wasting of citizens rights, (4) to reconsider the National Assembly's rules and regul

ations to provide sufficient flexibility for the consideration of

provisional orders, and to realize an increased integration bet ween the constitutional authorities,

(5) to take the necessary measures for strengthen ing the role of the People's National Assembly in supporting reg ional government. Fourth : the National Capital :

The national capital represents an introduction to the Sudan as a whole since it is the seat of national leadership in the political, legislative and executive fields. It is supposed to ref lect the Sudan with its Arab-African , Islamic and international mosaic .

Yet the need for urban development in the capital city has to be seen to be believed. Services such as roads, sewage systems,

sanitation, water and power supply leave a lot to be des ired . In addition other internal and external changes have enc ouraged an influx which has hampered development. We have taken a step in this direction when , after the app lication of the Regional Government Act and the People's Local Government Act , we have amended the Khartoum Province em . The Province People's Executive administration syst system

Council has been annulled, and some of its functions have been passed to the relevant central ministries or to related councils . The main purpose of this amendment is to achieve a suitable form to involve the Central Government in the administration

of the National Capital. To undertake the responsibilities of

47

renovation, and the administration of Khartoum public utilities , is a major task that cannot be entrusted to the local authorities alone. Their authority resting on the Province Administration

Act has fallen short of fulfilling the gigantic undertaking. The Act had to be revised on the following basis : 1.

2.

To ensure the organic unity of the National Capital and the organic integration of its basic utilities.

Realisation of the balance between the local authority and Central authority in the administration of the Na tional Capital.

3.

To set up technical, administrative and professional or gans capable of administering and developing public services and utilities in a concerted programme.

4.

Fifth :

To ensure a united recognized authority which is res ponsible for the administration of the National Capital. Decentralized Rule :

The Second Mandate has fortunately been a mandate of achievements that has been a source of pride for the Sudan and Sudanese. Achievements which are the initiative of our genera tion and the whole Sudanese nation to ensure national unity,

progress and development . Decentralized government - people's local government and

regional government - have been a true and honest interpretation of the objectives adopted by the May Revolution and the sti pulation of the permanent rule shall be applied in the Sudan. Thus we proceeded in this direction despite our reluctance to part with authority and to delegate power, and in spite of all the mis

givings and fears, we have succeeded in establishing regional cons titutional and executive institutions and local government units at various levels .

The establishment, during the Second Mandate , of Regional Ru le despite the risks of cancellation , amalgamation or reduction of gr eat central institutions , was not the most trying of difficulties. The hardest has been the accelerated gradation of establishing local government institutions throughout its successive phases which culminated in the election of governors and the establishment of the financing and administrative units within the new institutions.

48

After the success of such an experience we are bound to start the task of consolidating Regional Rule and People's Local Govern ment to enable them play the effective role of improving the qua lity of life in all the regions of the Sudan, to enable them to realize their principles and objectives i.e. to give the people their right of practicing government. That is why the central government had delegated the authority of managing some central taxation revenues to the regional governments to subsidize their own re sources and expand their financial functions. The regions emp loyment authority has been expanded as a step towards establish ing

Regional Public Service .

Thus the main features of the Third Mandate in this regard are :

1.

In spite of the current economic difficulties there sh ould be no restrictions on the growth and development

of Regional Rule, thus the formula of establishing Regional Rule which was based on reduction of the na tional organs and institutions in their favour, shall continue in such a way that ensures both the national and regional balance, via the complementary role of regional and national organs in addition fo the interc hangeable role, at both national and regional levels, of

distribution of powers, functions and institutions. 2.

Sudan is an integrated entity in which the policies of economic consolidation and restructuring at the nat ional level should also be reflected at the regional le

vel as regards expenditure, the required balance between revenues and expenses and also as regards attaining a surplus to be expended on both national and regional development . 3.

Regional Government means the decentralization of authority; and as such it should not turn into a regional centralization of power replacing a central one, thus, in the Third Mandate there will be an increased deleg ation of authority and function down to the lower le

vels . The regional authority will not be at the expense of regional capability. Regional Rule should add to the regional and na

tional earnings which will be utilized in the regional and national development of services, investment and production.

- 49

4.

In the Third Mandate the wealth and the resources will be finally shared amongst the central government and the regional governments and between them in accordance with fair allocation of resources set aside for

the different regions. 5.

In the Third Mandate there will be intensive acti vity in the field of development and investment of reg ional resources, in addition to which the central gover nment will gradually relinquish its regional tax revenue so as to be collected by the regional government as com pensation for central subsidies.

6.

Within the framework of the envisaged improvement of Regional Rule the Third Mandate shall aim at stren gthening the regional financial and accounting organs and periodically review the financial relation between the centre and the region with a view to promoting and improving this relationship.

50 CHAPTER V.

ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE

• The Judiciary. * The Attorney General's Chambers.

* Advocacy. * Education and Training in the Legal Profession ..

- 51

The Judiciary :

That the Revolution is committed to the principle of the independence of the judiciary has been repeatedly affirmed,

especially in the constitution. The independence of the judiciary is the real safeguard of the process of law, and the protection of civil liberty within the law. It is also a guarantee that dis

putes will be disposed of, without undue delay, and that fair and solid standards of justice which have been entrenched in the Sudan legal system will be maintained. We will continue to abide by the principle of the indepen dence of the judiciary, which is, in accordance with the Consti tution , directly responsible to the President of the Republic for the proper performance of its functions. Members of the judiciary will continue to be independent in the administration

of justice, and will only be subject to the rule of law. In the course of the Third Mandate we will introduce the

concept of complete financial autonomy of the judiciary, a con cept hitherto absent, although the Sudan gained its Indepen dence in January, 1956. While several public corporations acquired a large measure of financial and administrative inde pendence, the judiciary of the Sudan has been dealt with finan

cially and administratively as if it were simply a central government department. Its budgetary allocations are part of the central budget . The time has come to settle once and for all this unsatisfactory state of affairs.

That will entail the strengthening of the administrative and financial services of the judiciary, and the consolidation of the High Council for the Judiciary. These measures must dove tail with the bills of law reform, whereby a further decentraliza

tion of judicial action has been effected and litigation procedures

have been simplified. Laws to that effect were passed on 1 July and came into effect on 1 November, 1982. We believe that the judiciary of the Sudan will thus enter a new era of good work and achievement , in keeping with the solid conditions established by those eminent Sudan Chief Justices who presided over its affairs, like the late Mohamed Ahmed Abu Rannat .

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL S CHAMBERS :

It is commonplace that the state lays rules relating to the

rights and duties of persons and groups of persons; and that pro cedures pertaining to the disposal of suits and appeals are also go verned by legislation. Such legislation is in the public domain and thus part of common knowledge.

-- 52

The Attorney General's Chambers are the State organ re

sponsible for drafting and reviewing legislation with a view to en hance justice and stability. Amongst those functions of the Attorney General's Chambers that will receive spcial attention in the course of the coming Mandate are the following :

a)

to codify the law of evidence, and to introduce modern data processing techniques for information and legisla

tion on torts, company and partnership laws, following necessary studies and taking into account Sudan law precedents and

b)

to upgrade the efficiency and effectiveness of those ser vices responsible for the public dissemination of laws and legislation, and thus promote public awareness thereof;

c)

practice;

and

to strengthen the staff, financial and administrative re sources of the Chambers,

Advocacy :

Article 62 of the Constitution lays down that advocates shall defend the constitutional rights of the citizens , and shall adhere to the ethics of the profession in accordance with the

Law . In pursuance thereof, the following requirements must be observed :

( a) That the bar must continue to be an independent pro fession, subject only to its ethics.

(b) That a committee of justices composed of and under the auspices of the High Council for the Judiciary be

set up, to ascertain the standards of the profession in consultation with the Bar Association , and to lay dis

ciplinary rules applicable to lawyers' conduct in the profession . (c) Rules governing the relation between the bench and the bar are to be made with regard to pleading before courts , such as whether or not an advocate's experience

and seniority should determine whether he can plead before the High Court or the different levels of the lower courts.

(d) That the profession be promoted in all possible ways.

53

EDUCATION AND TRAINING IN THE LEGAL PROFESSION :

Law is a branch of knowledge that requires scholarly pursuit. There are different systems andschools of law. These different systems find their origin in the history, socio-economic and reli gious background of the country or group of countries concerned. While their approaches and techniques may in some instances

diverge, their objectives converge in the pursuit of justice, as we all know it. Nonetheless , because of ever- changing political and socio-economic conditions, law reform is a continuing process.

In the Sudan , different systems of laws are taught in univer

sities. Outside the Sudan, our students are taught law in diffe rent countries with differing systems. Inevitably, a system of education and training at the post university level must be instituted, if we want our young lawyers to have a harmonized approach and a common language.

- 54 CHAPTER VI

THE PEOPLES ARMED FORCES AND ALLIED REGULAR FORCES CONTINGENTS • Armed Forces.

* Police Forces. * Prison Works.

* Fire Brigades. * Game Wardens .

One has to pay tribute to these units and to both their role in fulfilling their sacred duty and of the truly nationalist nature

of their composition. There is loyalty to the whole of their coun try and their mission is dedicated to the whole Sudan, their alliance with other contingents such as the peasants, the workers, the intelligentsia and business men, is in fact that of protector and defender of our national sovereignty and our achi evements. Faithful as they are to the Twenty - Fifth of May Revolution , and guided by its principles, they are truly the guar antors of our unity and our national being. Not only have they genuninely contributed to nation al en deavour in various arenas of nation building, but they have stoutly and honourably defended this Revolution against its

enemies. Their hostility has progressively increased as we march forward for greater achievements, unity, justice and peace with brothers and friends .

We salute our Armed Forces and greet all other allied con tingents and wish them a greater contribution to the forward march of this Revolution for unity, glory , progress and prosperity. ( a) The Armed Forces :

Significant changes have definitely taken place during the previous stage of our economic and social growth, partly influ enced by regional as well as international factors. This calls for reviewing the role of the Armed Forces with greater emphasis on its duties, equipment and training in order to fulfil its basic mission of defending the nation. This mission has to reconcile

the needs of protecting a vast area with the constant demands of an ever-changing global strategy. The introduction of regional forms of government with the need for more concen trated development may call for new responsibilities of defence, and greater participation in development .

55

All this has to be coupled with our role of trying to promote, even impose, peace as commensurate with our Arab and African obligations.

or

This host of changes has to be taken into consideration when reviewing the new role of our Armed Forces and its allied con

tingents. A detailed plan may not be easy to come by, but the broad outline will stress the following points :

( 1) The need to promote the educational level so that it is in line with the fighting qualities and the training of our Armed Forces.

Military schools and academies

for advanced strategic studies to be supported by a greater number of schools and institutions to draw upon. Officers at the other end of the hierarchy have

to be given access to further training, in various dis ciplines inside the country as well as outside, and to

hold joint manoeuvres with armies of friendly countries.

( 2) Our Armed Forces have consistently adopted a fighting tradition that is basically defensive in nature and is designed to defend our unity and sovereignty. Our

fighting formations must be large enough and mobile enough to use light arms effectively. The balanced

military superiority of the two blocks has precluded the possibility of global war but has placed emphasis on greater numbers with higher fighting spirit.

( 3) This change of emphasis calls for specialized fighting units with greater physical fitness. Greater attention has therefore been paid to the physical fitness of the individual serving within the Armed Forces.

( 4) A backward Sudan was the prey of foreign predators; it is no

wonder that a progressing ever-developing

Sudan would be a more attractive target. Our army

units will therefore be more widely assigned on a national scale. Localized battalions with area names and aff iliations will be discarded as will be their connotations

of rigidity and immobility. ( 5) Supporting services within the new units will be imp roved so that self -sufficiency will be attained. (6 ) Services, such as the air force, the navy and air defence,

constantly need to catch up with technologically adv anced equipment and training .

- 56

That has to be provided for, within our present capab ilities.

(7) It is time for the Sudan to acquire defence capabilities that are compatible with its physical nature that spans desert, swamp, jungle and mountain, river and sea.

( 8) Highly specialized training for the fighting man should not preclude the acquisition of a more general knowle dge so that he is reasonably acquainted with other fighting equipment . (9) By acquiring varied skills, technical capabilities and experience, the Armed Fores, as part of our national potential and reservoir of wealth for futher developm ent, will not only aim for self-sufficiency, but draw on the facilities of the Military Economic Corporation.

( 10) It is time that more practical steps be taken towards putting compulsory national service into practice so that a military national reserve can come into being. Alerted into nobilization , such a reserve could come into

action within less than seventy-two hours. (b) The Police Force : 1.

Social change has surpassed our measures for economic

development through the mobility of migrant labour, and the drift of rural population which have had serious social repercussions especially in the capital city. The Police Force needs therefore to be expanded by new recruits, and equipped to deal with the grave consequences of this change. Future recruits will be re quired, having finished their higher Secondary Certificate, to

undergo intensive and advanced training. With special terms of service and specialized training, the police force in Khartoum has taken a step in the right direction . Similar measures will be put into force in the Regions.

2. The police will, as part of its future development , receive further training in the use of firearms should it be called upon to use them in the line of duty. 3. More specialized training has become imperatively necessary if the police is to handle the complex security problems of present economic and social development. Such specializa

tion should not prejudice their legitimate rights to promotion. 4. The third term of presidency may witness a wider app

lication of promoting a central police reserve in every region.

- 57 -

(c) Prison Officers : 1 . The explosive growth in urban population, the building industry and relative prosperity in cities and towns have long

overtaken security and other precautionary measures. Prison buildings that were on the outskirts of our towns a few years ago, have now been swamped by surrounding residential areas. Future new planning should cater for new buildings to house

offices, wardens and prisoners. Such a town lyingon the pri phery can aim at meeting its own needs and thus be self- sufficing. 2. Society should act as a custodian of the prisoner, to protect him , and help him acquire new skills whereby he may start afresh in peace and harmony with the rest of society.

With that end in view , the staff in prison services need special training so as to promote the technical skills of the prisoners.

With new attitudes they can be reformed into far

mers, mechanics and technicians. The third term of the pre sidency will provide for that and other measures of social reform , ( d ) The Fire Brigades : One need hardly stress the need for large and better fire equipment so that our brigades can combat and contain con

flagrations. More specialized training is called for to meet the requirements of our development. Mention should be made

of oil drilling and its subsequent installations as areas of respon sibility which require special attention. Private property is part of our national wealth and conversely we must bear in mind

that public property is our personal responsibility to protect. It is also encumbent on the Peoples Armed Forces and other

Regular Forces to shoulder that responsibility. (e) Game Wardens :

Wild life constitutes part of our national wealth that needs to be cherished, developed and protected if it is to survive. It can contribute to promoting tourism , to better education and understanding of life sciences and to the preservation of nature

and environment. More detailed programmes, bigger invest ments, revised and more advanced laws will contribute towards

greater preservation . The danger of poaching and the senseless destruction of animals endanger the survival of all species and threaten their living habitat. The third term of the presidency must provide for better training and equipment so that our game wardens can protect

this priceless heritage under new and revised laws to regulate hunting.

- 58

CHAPTER VII

FOREIGN POLICY

* In The African Sphere * In The Arab Sphere

* On Afro-Arab Co-operation * On Relations with Muslim and

Non - Aligned Countries. * The Sudan Relations

-- 59

We have always advocated that our foreign policy should be geared towards serving our national interests in the field of socio-economic and cultural development . To attain this, we are to follow an identified strategy based on the Sudan's capa bilities and its potential and on a clear understanding of the realities of contemporary international relations. Our foreign policy during the last decade has been charac terized by bold efforts to strengthen our relations with the world

on the basis of reciprocal respect and mutual interests. This policy has been characterized by rejecting the diktats of big powers' strategies , polarization and hegemony attempts. ;

The world contemporary scene calls for a fresh appraisal its major issues and the prevailing trends are no longer those of the seventies. New balances and power groupings, areas of fresh conflict and strains draw the attention of the interna

tional community to their dangerous consequences.

We are

now before a changing era, an era in which the ideological

strife has acquired economic and military dimensions that bed evil the international situation with serious crises and confron tations .

faced today by various and complex issues. Amongst them is the issue of Arab solidarity, the Arab-Israeli We

are

conflict , Pan Africanism and the future of the 0.A.U. in the wake of its present predicament. In addition to these , there are the issues of

Afro-Arab

relations, the North -South dialogue, the Islamic revivalist move ment, the Liberation revolution in Namibia and South Africa

and the Non-Alignment Movement . All these are important and vital issues.

Our policies towards these issues should be

defined with a clear understanding and a correct analysis of the forces at play .

In the light of these realities, our foreign policy during the third Mandate shall be more expressive of our basic principles, national interests and alive to the realities of contemporary

international relations. For the wisdom of any policy is always measured by its ability to strike a balance between the ideal and the possible.

- 60 FIRST: IN AFRICA :

During the past two Mandates our foreign policy in Africa was committed to the principles of good neighbourliness, recip rocal respect and non-interference in the internal affairs of others.

In this respect, we shall consolidate our efforts and policies in order that Africa remains secure from big power strategies, the ideological struggle of different blocks and groupings. We shall

spare no effort to resolve the problems of this continent in the light of our experience and our African heritage. The Sudan,

by virtue of its geographical position, heritage and political exp erience is well equipped to set the example that Africa may do well to emulate.

African Unity was the dream of the founders of the Organi zation . Africa cannot take the path of Unity if it does not work hard to achieve collective self-reliance among its countries and encourage the establishment of political, economic, social and cultural regional organizations. These are the basic requisites of unity. In this direction the Sudan will spare no effort to pro mote the group of the Nile Basin countries, foster close relations among them and thus realize the proposed schemes for the pro per utilization of the Nile waters. We have worked along thos lines at the Budolite

Summit between

the Sudan , Zaire and

Uganda, and the Tripartite Ministerial Meeting between the Sudan , Ethiopia and Kenya. The Governments and the peoples of Africa should try hard to resolve their disputes, lessen their polemics and contain their conflicts. The exploitation of the victims of famine, diseases and refugees as tools of political and military opposition against African regimes and governments is an inhumane and irrespon sible attitude, and contrary to the cardinal principles of mutual respect and non-interference in the internal affairs of others. The political and institutional framework of the Organi zation of African Unity that represents the continent's govern

ments and people should be more effective. This requires genuine efforts, free from all sorts of pressures so that the 0.A.U. can overcome its present predicament , and express the aspirations of the peoples of Africa. We are still hindered by obstacles that make our unity a difficult goal. In this connection the Sudan will co-operate with the 0.A.U. members to lift geographical, lingu istic , ethnic, and religious barriers, for it is our belief that the

cultural heritage of Africa is at once unitary and diverse.

61

The Sudan has always been a forerunner in supporting the

African liberation movements morally and materially. The Sudan has gladly shouldered its responsibilities as Chairman of the Committee in charge of securing the necessary aid for both the liberation movements and the countries in confrontation with

the apartheid regime in South Africa . As one among the countries which comprise the U.N. forces during the transitional period in Namibia, the Sudan will not be failing its duty to uphold the cause of liberation. The Sudan by virtue of its geographical position and cultural

heritage will continue to play a distinctive role in the Afro-Arab dialogue, a role which we intend to play with vigour and deter mination . We will do our utmost to improve Afro-Arab relations and render them mutually beneficial. SECONDLY: IN THE ARAB WORLD :

The Sudan's constant call for Arab solidarity and mobil “

ization of all the Arab capabilities for a stronger and more influ ential Arab World stems from our genuine belief and sincere sense of commitment to the Arab World . We recognize the responsibili ties that this commitment entails and shall not be deterred by campaigns of slander nor lose faith , but will adhere to our

principles and reject all groupings, fronts and formations that tend to stultify efforts towards solidarity and unity. Ours is a longstanding position to support a just and perma nent peace in the Middle East . Such peace must be based on the complete recognition of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and their right to establish their independent state in their national home, as well as the complete withdrawal from all occupied Arab territories.

We condemn the Israeli expansionist

policy and its aggression against Lebanon and we stand fast against all policies of oppression, liquidation and massacres

practiced by Israel against the valiant Palestinian people. It is essential that all the powers which support Israel in

its policy of political, military and economic expansion realise and understand that the Arab peoples after the Lebanese tragedy. will defend themselves with all their might in spite of all diffi culties and irrespective of all consequences. The Sudan believes and will continue to believe that the

isolation of Egypt from the Arab World is bound , despite all pretexts , to generate negative and dangerous afflictions on the Arab World . The bitter recent events in Lebanon and the mas sacres of Sabra and Shatila have shocked the Arab world into

realizing that Egypt with its human, political and military re sources represents the most pivotal element in the Arab nation.

62

Egypt cannot isolate itself from the Arab body politic, nor can the rest forgo what only Egypt can contribute.

Our position in this matter is dictated by our national and Arab obligation rather than by our close affinity with Egypt. We are truly gratified that the channels of communication and consultations recently revived between Cairo and the other Arab

capitals clearly forecast the return of Egypt to the Arab fold. The war between Iraq and Iran is cause for grave concern' having stretched for three years of loss, death and destruction The Sudan has joined others in a plea for an immediate cease fire , a negotiated settlement to spare life and property, and to mobilize Arab-Muslim resources to face the common enemy.

But Iran refuses to hear the voice of reason and rejects all the good offices offered by the Islamic Conference , the Non

Alignment movement and the U.N. Iraq on the other hand has readily agreed not only to withdraw its forces behind the recog

nized international borders but also to enter into negotiations.

Most countries in the area and beyond , are gravely concerned that the danger of escalation may engulf a highly explosive area into a conflict of the two super powers.

In order to forestall such dangers and in line with its com mitment at the Fez Second Summit, the Sudan has despatched contingents of its Armed Forces as well as trained volunteers to Iraq . It will be recalled that the Summit has resolved that an

act of aggression against any Arab state, member of the Arab

League, will be regarded as an act of aggression against all member states under the Collective Security Treaty. Complying with this commitment the Sudan has nevertheless pursued its ear nest endeavour to promote peace between the two countries . THIRDLY : In The Field of Afro - Arab Co - operation : We are striving to build a just and prosperous society, but this is not an easy task, since neither progress nor develop ment can be attained without pains, but we believe that with co- operation and collaboration we will be able to surmount all difficulties .

We take this opportunity to call upon our brothers in the Arab oil producing countries to invest in those Arab and African countries whose resources have not yet been tapped and to direct part of their surplus capital towards socio-economic development in such countries .

The Sudan played a distinguished part in the Committee of Seven that was entrusted with seeking the possibilities of arrs

ving at an accord whereby the oil producing Arab countriei

63

would supply the African countries with petroleum so that they might be spared the effects of increases in prices and cutting down of production .

Our Committee was also entrusted with

setting a long-term pattern for Afro-Arab cooperation. We feel that Afro -Arab cooperation is hampered by various factors, all in essence stemming from the lack of coordination between the

0.A.U. and the League of Arab States. A new perspective must be formulated to cater for Afro-Arab cooperation. It is imper ative that Africa continues to get its oil requirements. Likewise it is imperative to increase the capital of BADEA and support

the activities of the African Development Bank. Investment in the field of food production, military indus tries and other vital fields is an urgent necessity which, in addi

tion to its prosperous and good returris will strengthen fraternity and national sense of belonging. The surplus in Arab funds is capable of strengthening the economies of the poor Arab and African countries, but in order to secure the flow of these invest

ments it is necessary to secure the right political, legislative and economic atmosphere . The Sudan , true to its principled position to promote more

cooperation and collaboration in all fields, extends its full sup port to all efforts to mobilize Arab resources and potentialities be they in the form of groupings, or regional organisations, since they are indispensible necessary steps towards bigger commu nities and Arab integration . FOURTHLY: In The Islamic Fields And Non -Alignment :

The Sudan has emphasized the need for a strong Islamic solidarity. We believe and will continue to believe that the honest belonging of Moslems to Islam and their vigilant commitment to its principles and values as a mode of life is a solid bulwark against all dangers and the best way to achieve glory, force and progress .

The Organisation of Islamic Congress has been established to strengthen co -operation and solidarity between the Islamic countries and Moslem people, and to revive the spiritual, moral and social values of Islam.

The Organisation has proved successful in a short span of time and has been able to explore new areas of co -operation bet ween its member-states. It succeeded in solving and containing some of the problems existing between the Islamic countries, and

has been firm in combating the unjust campaigns against Islam . But in spite of all these achievements, there remains a lot to be accomplished in order to become a great organisation guided by the glory of Islam and to represent the abilities of the Islamic World.

64

The Sudan affirms its commitment to the resolutions of the

Mecca-Taif Summit adopted on the eve of the 5th Hegira century and commends and supports the Mecca declaration , calling for a true reflection of Islamic thoughtand culture in all regional and international forums. The Sudan will continue to play its distinctive role in disseminating and spreading Arab culture and language in Africa . The Sudan affirms the need to maintain the basic goals of the non -alignment movement and maintains its commitment to its principles, through the continued endeavours to preserve international peace and security and also to enhance the process of detente .

FIFTHLY : Sudan and The New International Economic Order

The need is more pressing now than ever before for a new international economic order to narrow the existing gap bet

ween the rich and poor, and here lies the importance of the

North -South Dialogue. There are various problems, comprising issues relating to trade, cash , food, sovereignty, natural resources,

transfer of technology. All these issues call for a just and con structive examination.

The existing dealings between the deve

loping countries and the industrial world are plagued with imbalances and injustice. The Third World wealth and natural resources cannot be exploited, under the prevailing order, to the best benefit of the developing countries. We call for a progressive growth in trade, economic , cultural and technology exchanges between the North and the South

on the basis of equality , justice and mutual benefits. We also stress that the Third World countries be left to build their econ

omies and solve their problems without dictated policies and measures , especially in relation to debts and debt servicing. We believe that the rich countries will not lose much if they decrease

the debts services, reschedule them, or at most regard these debts as grants, enabling the poor countries to surmount their economic

crisis. It is therefore important to set flexible and just arran gements whereby the chronic debts problem can be solved in In this respect, governments, international organisations and commercial banks are invited to play a con

a collective manner.

structive role in the flow of financial assistance and loans to help the developing countries overcome their difficulties and conse

quently help in dealing effectively with the plagues to the international economy of unemployment, recession and stag nation .

It is ratherimportant to hasten the transfer of technology to the Third World countries and to

render assistance in a

manner that will enable them to produce the sort of technology compatit

with their needs. It is also worthwhile to recognize

65

the unfettered right of the developing countries to own their resources and natural wealth , setting equitable conditions for international trade and protecting their markets from mal practices.

The need is so urgent toachieve production and consumption markets in the Third World countries; this would enable them to surmount the present economic recession from which they are suffering. The gap between us and the industrial world carries within itself disastrous effects and this requires an obj ective reappraisal of our relations with the industrial world so as to set these relations in their proper setting. The continuation of the present situation will lead, no doubt , to crisis and disasters that will endanger the existence of the human race.

Our economic , commercial and cultural relations with Western Europe are excellent and they can be developed on an

equitable and constructive basis free from all sorts of hegemony. We have endeavoured and shall continue our endeavours to uphold

the principle of partnership in development and mutual benefits. We shall work to strengthen the cooperation with all countries especially those who are on the verge of becoming industrialized

countries and have unique experiences in the field of construction and development . In accordance with our principles and declared policies we will develop our relations with the industrial countries in various

fields because our resources confirm our ability to make a break through from stagnation and underdevelopment, and hence encourage our brothers and friends to cooperate and invest .

Our policy towards the international and regional organisa tions is based on the principle of solidarity with Third World countries so that these organisations become more sympathetic

and responsible to the needs of the developing countries. Our effort in the multi-lateral fields at international and regional

organisations will always be in line with the developing coun tries such as the non -aligned group, the Islamic Conference, the

group of 77, the African group, the Arab group and the African, Pacific and Caribbean group.

It is necessary that we urge these organisations to become a practical tool for the transfer of technology and investment to Third World countries and that the international resources be distributed in a fair manner so that the industrialized coun

tries do not get the most at the expense of the Third World .

66

In spite of our lukewarm relations with some of the countries of the Eastern Bloc , the Sudan tries to do its best to normalize

its relations on the basic principles of our foreign policy since we believe that differences in ideology should not necessarily lead to deteriorating or hostile attitudes.

We have excellent relations with Yugoslavia, Romania and Czechoslovakia in the political, economic and cultural fields.

Our relations with the People's Republic of China are, in parti cular, positive, and they tend to gather momentum in all fields to the mutual benefit of the two countries.

As regards our relations with the Soviet Union we will con tinue to seek ways and means to establish a relationship based on respect of national sovereignty, non-interference in domestic affairs, safeguarding peace and stability and promoting and developing mutual interests.

67

CHAPTER VIII

INTEGRATION BETWEEN

&

EGYPT

* *

* *

THE SUDAN

68

For the first time in history, the relation between the twin peoples of the Nile Valley, with all itsinvariable and original elements, has gone in the statute book. This does honour to the

Revolution. That relation is part and parcel of the psyche of the two peoples. Since time immemorial it has been rooted in co mmon history and land, in a unitary civilization and vital links.

Throughout history our peoples yearned and struggled in common for a meaningful content of that relation. In the course of the struggle there were fighters and martyrs. But the flag never fell. It fell to the July Revolution in Egypt and the May Revolution in the Sudan to institutionalise that

relation, on solid principles of socio -economic progress and political solidarity, essential to the survival and well-being of the twin peoples. The ground has thus been prepared to create

new facts of life along the Nile Valley. Pragmatic means comm ensurate with these noble objectives would have to be devised.

A scientific approach based on a correct reading of contemporary history would have to be adopted. Half-baked measures and hurried preparatory work would have to be discarded. Solid and lasting relations between peoples could no longer be based on rhe caprices of leaders, nor on the pious wishes of the do -gooders. We have always taken the position that unitary Arab

action, though a global struggle, can only be properly undertaken by stages. There must be an objective assessment of the elements

of difference and those of cohesion. Thus came into being early in 1974 the idea to adopt an “Approach to Integration ”. That was necessary preparatory work . It was a worth -while experiment

especially in the field of socio-economic development. And like all experiments it has its positive as well as its negative aspects. After eight years a re -appraisal had to be done. New vistas of action had to be explored . It is the trend of our modern

world to pool together resources into regional groups. Small entities have become irrelevant. Nor could they survive in a world that only respects power and powerful groups. Thus the Charter of integration has come into being as a

political and historical necessity. In it we have clearly formulated our objectives, means and plans. We have drawn from similar experiences, guided by pragmatic and fair considerations. The

duration of the Charter will be ten years, subject only to reduction, which will be divided into specified phases to be decided upon by the Higher Council for Integration with the the sanction of the Nile Valley parliament.

69

The Charter re-iterates our long-standing positions with regard to our Arab identity and Muslim commitment and belo nging. It also re- iterates our role in Afro-Arab and Moslem co operation, and solidarity among the non -aligned . The Charter of Integration is not an axis. It is directed against none. It is open for adherence by brotherly and neighbouring countries. That is why we have taken the initiative to deposit it with reg ional and international organizations. It is our ardent hope that

the Charter will set a model for positive co - operation between brotherly and neighbouring countries. It will be a vehicle for developing the natural and agricultural resources of the Nile Valley, its vast potential in human resources, minerals and lives tock.It should strengthen our bargaining and marketing position in the world market in certain areas. I am glad to report that the first meeting of the Higher Council, which took place some days ago augurs well . We approved urgent projects, and moved to lift barriers and obstacles obstructing rhe movement of persons and flow of goods along the Nile Valley. I would emph asise that the popular and sectoral movements have a role no less important than that of the official organs to see that the Charter's aims are fulfilled . That is why we have established a Committee for Popular Organisations for that purpose. It will report to the Higher Council, Comparable organizations in both countries may be required, as appropriate, to embark on joint action . In the sphere of Integration, the Third Mandate will witness a change in approach, from haphazard and unconcerned measures

to one of methodology, legalisation and effectiveness, to wit: ( 1) Action will be based on solid feasibility studies and well -conceived preparatory work. ( 2) Follow -up executive measures must be taken so that the twin peoples will see their hopes brought to fruition . Red tape and administrative squabbles will not hinder action.

Integration procedures must be action oriented. God willing, inregration will bring about far-reaching transformations in the socio-economic infrastructure of the Nile Valley within a frame

work of global strategy . The Third Mandate will witness :

( 1 ) Policy co -ordination between the two states in the field of international relations ;

(2) the formulation and execution of a joint strategy for defence and security ;

- 70

(3) a joint strategy for civil and national action in both countries ;

(4) the unification of the educational system and curricula in both countries ; and the eradication of illiteracy ;

(5) cultural promotion and enrichment for both peoples with a view to enhancing cultural unity and a unitary psychological make-up ; (6 ) to ensure health services for the two peoples ; (7) to devise practical modalities with a view to removing all hindrances including customs duties pertaining to the free passage of goods and products, the free move

ment of persons, capital and profit, right to residence , work , ownership, employment and freedom to engage in economic activities, traffic and transit.

Likewise action will be taken in the following spheres : ( 1 ) the co - ordination of development plans ; (2) the consolidation, increase and expansion of joint pro jects ;

( 3) the promotion of free trade and creation of a unitary customs area ; and

(4) the promotion of measures to make the two countries a unitary currency area.

At this early stage of the Charter we would want to see : ( 1 ) Equality in rights and duties between the nationals of the two countries, as provided for in the Charter, in that a national of the Sudan residing in Egypt will have the same rights as a national of Egypt residing

in the Sudan in terms of ownership, work, engaging in the liberal professions or economic activity ;

( 2) the removal of customs barriers, and other restrictions hampering free trade, exchange of national commo dities, free traffic and transit and the transfer of capital

and profit ; and (3) the removal of restrictions on the movement of persons and residence in the two countries.

Imaginative measures must be taken to vigorously promote trade between the two countries. In addition to the traditional commodities governed by the Trade Protocol , trade must include commodities hitherto dealt with in hard currency. The Sudan

must respond to Egypt's need for short-staple cotton , oil seeds ,

- 71

edible oils, meat, livestock , hides, fodder, and tropical products. Egypt must respond to the needs of the Sudan for fertilizers, chemicals, petroleum products, building materials, citrus fruits, industrial and canned products.

In the short and medium range, we will seek to promote

joint investment projects in agriculture, which has a formidable

potential, particularly in food and fodder. In the long range plans will be made to develop the full natural potential of the two countries.

We will seek to consolidate the organs and institutions of integration. We invite our brotherly Arab countries to parti cipate in the Integration Fund so that the vast resources of the

Nile Valley may be put to the service of the whole Arab World . We will seek to connect the hinterland of the Sudan with the

Mediterranean , and use it as an outlet of our foreign trade. Integration is a sacred trust of the two peoples. It is a trust to be protected against laxity with vigour and determina

tion. By all standards, it is a model experiment for unitary and joint endeavour. It transcends slogan -mongering, haste and opportunism as far as Arab unitary action is concerned. a splendid contribution to the cause of Arab unity.

It is

We are embarking on a big and a worthy venture, to con cretise the will of the twin peoples through political, legislative and executive institutions. We will implement the options of our people as expressed in our National Charter for Action and

in our political, legislative and executive institutions.

.

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