National Democratic
Alliance Collection
Period
1989-2002
Total size
1 m.
Consultation
Not restricted
History
The
National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was set up clandestinely in Karthoum, Sudan,
in October 1989, only three months after the military coup of general Omar
al-Bashir which brought the National Islamic Front to power; the NDA, which
included all Sudanese oppositional political parties, moved its leadership to
Cairo, Egypt, as it was almost impossible to organize any political activities
inside Sudan.
Content
Collection consisting of minutes of meetings of the NDA in Cairo and Asmara
1990-2003 and correspondence, conference papers, declarations, publications and
other documents; documents of the parties comprising the NDA, including the
Umma Party, the Democratic Unionist Party, the Sudanese Peoples' Liberation
Army, the Sudan Allied Forces and the Legitimate Command of the Sudanese Army;
documents of other Sudanese nongovernmental organizations, both inside Sudan
and abroad, in particular on issues of human rights and the defence of
political detainees.
Processing information
List made by Mohammed Abdulhamid in
2004
Introduction
The National Democratic
Alliance (NDA) was founded in October 1989, only a couple of months after the
General Omer al-Bashir seized power in Sudan with the help of National Islamic
Front (NIF). The first signatories to the NDA charter, drafted underground,
were the Umma Party, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and the Communist
Party of Sudan (CPS). They were later joined by other parties, trade unions,
and independent individuals. By 2002 the following parties and organizations
were members of the NDA: 1) the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), 2). the Umma
Party (suspended its membership in the NDA in March 2000, though it is
committed to the NDA's resolutions and goals), 3) the Sudan People's Liberation
Movement and the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLM/SPLA), 4) the Union of
Sudan African Parties (USAP), 5) the Communist Party of Sudan (CPS), 6) the
General Council of the Trade Unions Federation (GCTUF), 7) the Legitimate
Command of the Sudanese Armed Forces (LCSAF), 8) the Beja Congress, 9) the
Sudan Allied Forces (SAF), 10) the Federal Democratic Alliance (FDA), 11) the
Free Lions Association, 12) the Arab Baath Socialist Party, 13) independent
national figures, 14) representatives of the liberated areas, 15) the Sudanese
National Party.
The main goal of the NDA was to overthrow the NIF
government in Khartoum and reinstall democracy and political pluralism in the
Sudan and to reach a peaceful solution for the question of Southern Sudan,
based on the equitable distribution of wealth and power, even development, with
respect for the cultural and religious diversity of Sudan.
In 1989 and
1990 many of the leaders of Sudanese political parties managed to leave the
country, including Mohamed Osman al-Mirgani of the DUP, Mubarak al-Fadil
al-Mahdi of the Umma Party, and Izzeddin Ali Amer of the CPS. As refugees they
started an intensive and wide ranging campaign against the government in Sudan.
Meanwhile a small group of NDA activists initiated a limited and secretive
political movement inside Sudan.
During the first half of the 1990s a
combination of national and international factors helped the efforts of the NDA
to enhance the isolation of the Khartoum Government. Partly it was the fault of
the Khartoum government itself, as it intensified the civil war in the south,
aiming to eliminate the SPLA militarily, while at the same time exerting a
unprecedented brutal suppression of its political opponents in the North. This
was exacerbated by the radical foreign policies of the Khartoum government,
which supported Iraq's invasion of Kuwait.
The joining of the SPLA of
the NDA in 1990 enhanced its activities and moral, and pushed forward its
agenda especially in the USA and Western Europe. The efforts of the NDA reached
its peak in 1995 after the assassination attempt on the life of the President
Mubarak of Egypt in Addis Abba and the launching of the first northern Sudanese
armed struggle group of the Sudan Allied Forces (SAF) in 1996.
The
military efforts of the NDA started with the formation of the Legitimate
Command of the Sudanese Armed Forces (LCSAF), founded by army officers who were
dismissed by the government right after the coup d'etat. LCSAF was led by
General Fathi Ahmed Ali, the chief of Staff of the Sudanese Army before the
coup. But this organisation also experienced splits. In 1996 Brigadier
Abdulaziz Khalid broke away from LCSAF and formed his own Sudan Allied Forces
(SAF) and started military operations in Eastern Sudan with the help of
Eritrea. Three other armed groups or factions were formed by the Umma Party,
the DUP and the Beja Congress in 1996. The military efforts of the NDA were
later joined by other attempts to form armed factions by the Communist Party
and the Free Lions of Rashaida Tribe. Although these armed factions made an
impressive show at the beginning in 1996, they failed to achieve any progress
due to a lack or resources and a lack of coordination between them, in addition
to the fierce competition that existed among the opposition groups.
Politically, the NDA adopted several strategies during its struggle,
starting in 1990 by the old strategy of organizing a popular uprising, similar
those of 21 October 1964 and 6 April 1985 in Khartoum. However, after being
joined by the SPLA and northern fighting factions, the NDA chose to adopt
military action in order to bring down the NIF government. But some groups
within the NDA continued to consider military actions as a tool to provide
protection to bring about a popular uprising in Khartoum and they continued to
talk about the Protected Popular Uprising Strategy. At a later stage,
especially after the withdrawal of the Umma Party from the NDA and the obvious
ineffectiveness of the military actions in Eastern Sudan, a new strategy of a
Negotiated Solution was adopted by the NDA. This tactic was followed
reluctantly at the beginning, but was generally regarded as the only viable way
out.
The most important political achievements of the NDA throughout its
struggle were the adoption of many important documents and declarations signed
in Asmara, Cairo and Nairobi, which provide a solution to the problems the
Sudan is suffering from. For instance, the Declaration of Asmara of 1985
represents the first Sudanese political consensus on some of the most sensitive
issues such as the relation between the state and religion, the right of
self-determination for Southern Sudan and the marginalized areas. In 2000 the
NDA finally entered negotiations with the government as a way to bring about
change in Sudan. Many meetings and rounds of talks have been held with the
Sudanese government since then without tangible results until mid 2004 when a
breakthrough was reached.
The collection
The collection was
donated to the IISH by the Communist Party of Sudan in 2003. It consists of the
resolutions, declarations, policy papers, statements and press releases issued
by the NDA from 1989 to 2002. The collection contains also minutes of meetings
and resolutions of the NDA leadership internal deliberations, documents on
foreign branches and foreign relations, in addition to a remarkable collection
of documents on human rights situation in the Sudan.
Every description
(inv. no.) consists of 1 cover; exceptions to this rule are mentioned
separately. The size of the collection is 1 m. and it is free accessible to
researchers.
LIST
Charters
-
1
-
The National
Democratic Alliance (NDA) Charter signed in Khartoum in 21 October 1989.
-
2
-
The modified
charter of The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) signed in Cairo 1992.
-
3
-
Amendments
on the Charter agreed upon in 1995.
-
4
-
Memorandum
of understanding, National Alliance Forces. September 1996.
Conferences and Meetings of the
Leadership Council
-
5
-
Documents of
the Leadership meetings of 1991.
-
6
-
Documents of
the Leadership meeting of January 1992.
-
7
-
Nairobi
Declaration, Communiqu of the Leadership meetings. 1993.
-
8
-
Preparatory
works of the Fundamental Issues' Conference, Asmara. June 1994.
-
9
-
Fundamental
Issues' Conference, resolution on the issue of self-determination. 1995.
-
10
-
Fundamental
Issues' Conference, resolution on security and military arrangements. 1995.
-
11
-
Fundamental
Issues' Conference, resolution on the structure of NDA. 199.5.
-
12
-
Proceedings
of the Leadership Council and Executive Bureau Asmara
Part I. Jan 1996.
-
13
-
Proceedings
of the Leadership Council and Executive Bureau Asmara. Part II. 1996.
-
14
-
Final
Communiqu , Leadership Council meetings, Asmara. 1996.
-
15
-
Proceedings
of the Leadership Council meetings. Asmara Part I. Oct. 1996.
-
16
-
Proceedings
of the Leadership Council meetings. Asmara. Part II. Oct. 1996.
-
17
-
Proceedings
of the Leadership Council meetings. Asmara. March. 1997.
-
18
-
Proceedings
of the Leadership Council meetings. Asmara. Jun. 1997.
-
19
-
Report on
the activities of the NDA General Secretariat. Jan. 1997.
-
20
-
Proceedings
of the Committee for Transitional Arrangements. Asmara. 1998.
-
21
-
Proceedings
of the Leadership Council meetings. Asmara. March. 1998.
-
22
-
Preparatory
works for the Leadership Council meetings. Oct. 1998.
-
23
-
Final
Communiqu , Leadership Council meetings. Asmara. Jun. 1999.
-
24
-
Proceedings
of the Leadership Council meetings. Tripoli, Libya. Dec. 1999.
-
25
-
Final
Communiqu , Leadership Council, (Tripoli Declaration). Tripoli. Aug. 1999.
-
26
-
Final
Communiqu , Leadership Council, Kampala, Uganda. Dec. 1999.
-
27
-
Proceeding
and the final Communiqu , Leadership Council, Cairo, Egypt. March. 2000.
-
28
-
Proceedings
and the final Communiqu , Leadership Council, Cairo, Egypt. Aug. 2000.
-
29
-
Second
General Conference of NDA, preparatory work, Massawa, Eritrea. Sep. 2000.
-
30
-
Second
General Conference of NDA, speeches delivered in the conference. Massawa,
Eritrea. Sep. 2000.
-
31
-
Second
General Conference of NDA, reports presented to the conference. Massawa,
Eritrea. Sep. 2000.
-
32
-
Final
Communiqu , Leadership Council meetings. Asmara, Eritrea. Dec. 2001.
-
33
-
Proceedings
and the final Communiqu , Leadership Council, Asmara, Eritrea. Feb. 2002.
-
34
-
Proceedings
of the Leadership Council meetings, Asmara, Eritrea. August. 2002.
Reconciliation and Negotiation
Initiatives with the Sudan government.
-
35
-
Memo on
reconciliation attempts. 1991.
-
36
-
NDA and the
IGAD peace initiative. 1994.
-
37
-
The NDA
proposal for a comprehensive political solution. 1999.
-
38
-
NDA
reaction to the Libyan reconciliation. 1999.
-
39
-
The NDA
negotiation position. 1999.
-
40
-
Resolution
on comprehensive peace initiative. 2000.
-
41
-
Memo to
IGAD secretariat on peace initiative. 2000.
-
42
-
Proposal to
unify all political reconciliation initiatives. 2000.
-
43
-
Memo on
political settlement. 2000.
-
44
-
Memo on
interim government. 2002.
-
45
-
Cairo
declaration signed by Garang, Mahdi and al-Mirghani. 2003.
-
46
-
NDA
Khartoum, views on political settlement. No date.
Press Releases
-
47-59
-
Various
press releases issued by the NDA. 1990-2002.
-
47
-
1990.
-
48.
-
1991.
-
49
-
1992.
-
50
-
1993.
-
51
-
1994.
-
52
-
1995
-
53
-
1996.
-
54
-
1997.
-
55
-
1998.
-
56
-
1999.
-
57
-
2000
.
-
58
-
2001.
-
59
-
2002
.
-
60
-
Press
releases on military operations. 1997-2002.
Branches Abroad
-
61
-
Various
documents issued by the NDA on policies and organization of branches abroad.
1990-1995.
-
62
-
Reports,
letters and documents of the NDA Branch in UK. 1990-1994.
-
63
-
Reports,
letters and documents of the NDA Branch in USA. 1991-1995.
-
64
-
Reports,
letters and documents of the NDA Branch in France. 1990-1995.
-
65
-
Reports,
letters and documents of the NDA Branch in Czech Republic. 1990-1995.
-
66
-
Reports,
letters and documents of the NDA Branch in Saudi Arabia. 1991-1995.
-
67
-
Reports,
letters and documents of the NDA Branch in Gulf Region. 1995.
-
68
-
Letter of
the NDA Branch in Libya. 1995.
-
69
-
Letters of
the NDA Branch in Yemen. 1996.
Foreign Relations
-
70
-
Policy
papers and reports on foreign relations. 1991-1994.
-
71
-
Letters and
papers concerning relations with Egypt. 1991-1997.
-
72
-
Letters and
papers concerning relations with Eritrea. 1994-2001.
-
73
-
Letters and
papers concerning relations with the USA. 1993-2000.
-
74
-
Letters and
papers concerning relations with African countries. 1991-1997.
-
75
-
Letters and
papers concerning relations with Arab countries. 1991-1997.
-
76
-
Letters to
the Un Secretary General. 1992-1998.
-
77
-
Letters to
European states and organizations. 1994-2000.
Proposed laws and arrangements for
interim period
-
78
-
Laws and
economic and administrative arrangements of the interim period. 1992.
-
79
-
Laws and
economic and administrative arrangements of the interim period, revised. 1994.
-
80
-
Laws and
economic and administrative arrangements of the interim period, revised. 1999.
-
81
-
The
Provisional Constitution of Sudan. No date.
-
82
-
Constitutional decrees. No date.
-
83
-
Action Plan
of the Interim government. No date.
-
84
-
Labor law
and related issues. No date.
-
85
-
Eliminating
the remnants of National Islamic Front government. No date.
-
86
-
Other
related documents. No date.
NDA Newspaper
-
87
-
Various
reports and plans related to the NDA Weekly newspaper. 1991-1993.
Reports on human rights
-
88
-
Reports on
human rights collected and compiled by the NDA. 1990-1999.
-
89
-
Reports on
human rights by Sudan Human Rights Organization. 1991-1999.
-
90
-
Reports on
human rights by Sudanese Victims of Torture Group
2000.
-
91
-
Reports on
human rights by Arab Human Rights. 1997.
-
92
-
Reports on
human rights in Sudan, United Nations. 1992-1999.
-
93
-
Reports on
human rights in Sudan, Amnesty International. 1989-1999.
Documents related to NDA member parties
and organizations
Umma Party
-
94
-
Comments,
Remarks and letters of the Umma Party to the NDA. 1992-1999.
-
95
-
Letters
and speeches of Sadiq al-Mahdi the Leader of Umma. 1991-2000.
-
96
-
Various
working papers written by Sadiq al-Mahdi. 1995-2001.
-
97
-
Cairo
Branch meetings of the Umma party. 1996-2000.
-
98
-
Agreement
with SPLA signed in Shogdom, southern Sudan. 1994.
-
99
-
Joint
communiqu with the Communist Party of Sudan. 1995.
-
100
-
Various
documents on foreign relations. 1995 and no date.
-
101
-
Press
releases, Umma Party. 1993-2001.
Democratic Unionist Party DUP
-
102
-
Constitution and programs of the DUP. 1991-1995.
-
103
-
Meeting
of the Central Committee. 1992-1995.
-
104
-
Various
papers and documents on the NDA. 1990-1996.
-
105
-
Press
releases DUP. 1993-1995.
-
106
-
Miscellaneous documents DUP. 1993-1995.
Sudanese People's Liberation
Army/Movement (SPLA)
-
107
-
Statement to the Sudanese People on the current situation
John Garang. 1991.
-
108
-
Statement marking the 8th anniversary of SPLA, John Garang. 1991.
-
109
-
Torit
Meeting Resolutions. 1991.
-
110
-
Speech
to the First National Convention, John Garang. 1994.
-
111
-
The
First National Convention, Resolutions. 1994.
-
112
-
Declaration on Nuba Mountains. 1996.
-
113
-
Conference on civil society. 1996.
-
114
-
Visions,
Program and constitution. 1998.
SPLA –NDA
-
115
-
Speeches
delivered at NDA meetings and conferences. 1993-1995.
-
116
-
Various
correspondence and proposal to NDA. 1992-2000.
SPLA- Peace Talks
-
117
-
Sudan
Government Initiative. 1989.
-
118
-
Abuja I
Peace Talks. 1992.
-
119
-
Abuja II
Peace Talks. 1993.
-
120
-
Common
agenda for IGAD Peace Talks. 1994.
-
121
-
An open
appeal for peace. 1995, 1997.
-
122
-
Nuba
Mountains cease fire agreement. 2002
-
123
-
Joint
declarations between SPLA and other Sudanese parties. 1992-2002
-
124
-
Correspondences and documents related to various foreign organizations and
personalities. 1987-2002
-
125
-
SPLA
press releases. 1991-2002
-
126
-
SPLA
UP-Date newsletter. 1993-1996.
The Legitimate Command of the
Sudanese Armed Forces
-
127
-
Various
documents on issues related to NDA. 1992-1998
-
128
-
Various
documents on issues related to military issues. 1992-1998.
Sudan Allied Forces
-
129
-
Sudan
Allied Forces. 1995-1996.
Other Organizations
-
130
-
Various
documents of other member organizations, allies of the NDA or active with the
Sudanese opposition groups abroad. 1990-2002.
1 folder.
Press Cuttings
-
131
-
Press
cuttings on the NDA and other opposition groups. 1991-2001.
1 folder.
