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{{short description|Political party in Sudan}}
{{For|political parties with similar names|Democratic Unionist Party (disambiguation)}}
{{redirect|National Unionist Party|the Greek political party|National Unionist Party (Greece)}}
{{redirect|National Unionist Party|the Greek political party|National Unionist Party (Greece)}}
{{refimprove|date=February 2016}}
{{more citations needed|date=February 2016}}
{{Infobox political party
{{Infobox political party
| name = Democratic Unionist Party
| name = Democratic Unionist Party
| native_name = الحزب الإتحادي الديموقراطي<br />''Al Hizb Al-Ittihadi Al-Dimuqrati''
| native_name = {{lang|ar|الحزب الإتحادي الديموقراطي}}<br>{{transl|ar|Al Hizb Al-Ittihadi Al-Dimuqrati}}
| logo =
| logo = Logo of the Democratic Unionist Party (Sudan).png
| leader =
| leader =
| founder = [[Muhammad Uthman al-Mirghani]], [[Ismail Al-Azhari]]
| founder = Sayyid Ali al-Mirghani, [[Ismail Al-Azhari]]
| foundation = {{start date|1952}}
| foundation = {{start date|1952}}
| ideology = [[Nationalism]]<br>[[Liberal conservatism]]<br />[[Secularism]]<br />'''Historically:'''<br />[[New Sudan|Sudanese reunification]]
| ideology =
| position = [[Centre]]<ref name=Handbook14>{{cite encyclopedia |title=Democratic Unionist Party |encyclopedia=Political Handbook of the World 2014 |editor=Tom Lansford |year=2014 |publisher=[[CQ Press]] |location=[[Thousand Oaks, California|Thousand Oaks, Calif.]] |isbn=978-1-4833-3328-1 |url={{Google books|iC_VBQAAQBAJ|page=1368|plainurl=y}} |pages=1368 f.}}</ref>
| position = [[Centre-right]]<ref name=Handbook14>{{cite encyclopedia |title=Democratic Unionist Party |encyclopedia=Political Handbook of the World 2014 |editor=Tom Lansford |year=2014 |publisher=[[CQ Press]] |location=[[Thousand Oaks, California|Thousand Oaks, Calif.]] |isbn=978-1-4833-3328-1 |url={{Google books|iC_VBQAAQBAJ|page=1368|plainurl=y}} |pages=1368 f}}</ref>
| merger = [[Khatmiyya]] Sufi order,<br />[[Ashigga Party]]
| merger = [[Khatmiyya]] [[Sufi order]]<br />Ashigga Party
| headquarters = [[Khartoum]]
| headquarters = [[Khartoum]]
| newspaper =
| newspaper =
| national = [[National Democratic Alliance (Sudan)|National Democratic Alliance]]
| national = [[National Democratic Alliance (Sudan)|National Democratic Alliance]]
| seats1_title = [[National Assembly of Sudan]]
| seats1_title = [[National Assembly of Sudan]]
| seats1 = {{Composition bar|25|354|hex=#00A6EF}}
| seats1 = {{Composition bar|0|354|hex={{party color|Democratic Unionist Party (Sudan)}}}}
| seats2_title = [[Council of States of Sudan]]
| seats2_title = [[Council of States of Sudan]]
| seats2 = {{Composition bar|1|50|hex=#00A6EF}}
| seats2 = {{Composition bar|0|50|hex={{party color|Democratic Unionist Party (Sudan)}}}}
| flag = Flag of Sudan (1956-1970).svg
| flag = [[File:Flag of Sudan (1956–1970).svg|200px]]
| colorcode = #00A6EF
| colorcode = {{party color|Democratic Unionist Party (Sudan)}}
| country = Sudan
| website =
| website =
| country = Sudan
}}
}}
The '''Democratic Unionist Party''' ({{lang-ar-at|الحزب الإتحادي الديموقراطي|al-Hizb al-Ittihadi al-Dimuqrati}}), lately referred to as the '''Grand Democratic Unionist Party''', is a [[political party]] in [[Sudan]], closely tied to the [[Khatmiyya]] [[Sufi order]].
The '''Democratic Unionist Party''' ('''DUP'''; {{lang-ar-at|الحزب الإتحادي الديموقراطي|al-Hizb al-Ittihadi al-Dimuqrati}}), also referred to by itself as the '''Original Democratic Unionist Party''', is a [[political party]] in [[Sudan]], closely tied to the [[Khatmiyya]] [[Sufi order]].


Established in 1952 as the '''National Unionist Party''' (NUP), it is one of two political parties predating Sudan's independence, along the [[Umma Party (Sudan)|Umma Party]]. Founded by [[Mohammed Uthman al-Mirghani]]'s Khatmiyya order and [[Ismail al-Azhari]]'s urban nationalist [[Ashigga Party]] (est. 1943), it is often considered Sudan's oldest political party.<ref name=GlobalSecurity>{{cite web |author=John Pike |title=Democratic Unionist Party [DUP] |publisher=GlobalSecurity.org |url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/sudan/political-parties-dup.htm |accessdate=14 February 2016}}</ref> Having won a clear majority in Sudan's [[Sudanese parliamentary election, 1953|first parliamentary election]], al-Azhari became Sudan's first [[Prime Minister of Sudan|prime minister]], who in 1955 declared independence from colonial rule.
Established in 1952 as the '''National Unionist Party''' (NUP), it is one of two political parties predating Sudan's independence, along the [[Umma Party (Sudan)|Umma Party]]. Founded by Mohammed Uthman al-Mirghani II's Khatmiyya order and [[Ismail al-Azhari]]'s urban nationalist [[Ashigga Party]] (est. 1943), it is often considered Sudan's oldest political party.<ref name=GlobalSecurity>{{cite web |author=John Pike |title=Democratic Unionist Party [DUP] |publisher=GlobalSecurity.org |url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/sudan/political-parties-dup.htm |accessdate=14 February 2016}}</ref> Having won a clear majority in Sudan's [[Sudanese parliamentary election, 1953|first parliamentary election]], al-Azhari became Sudan's first [[Prime Minister of Sudan|prime minister]], who in 1955 declared independence from colonial rule.


The party broke apart in 1956, with the Khatmiyya order founding the new [[People's Democratic Party (Sudan)|People's Democratic Party]] (PDP), but reunited in 1967, resulting in the current name. In 1986, DUP leader [[Ahmed al-Mirghani]] became [[President of Sudan]] until ousted by [[Omar al-Bashir]]'s military coup in 1989. While the party's official leadership around [[Muhammad Uthman al-Mirghani]] remained in exile, the [[Khartoum]]-based Political Secretariat seceded in 2011, resulting in the rivalling [[Democratic Unionist Party (al-Digair)|"Registered" Democratic Unionist Party]] led by [[Jalal al-Digair]].
The party broke apart in 1956, with the Khatmiyya order founding the new [[People's Democratic Party (Sudan)|People's Democratic Party]] (PDP), but reunited in 1967, resulting in the current name. In 1986, DUP leader [[Ahmed al-Mirghani]] became [[President of Sudan]] until ousted by [[Omar al-Bashir]]'s military coup in 1989. While the party's official leadership around Muhammad Uthman al-Mirghani II remained in exile, the [[Khartoum]]-based Political Secretariat seceded in 2011, resulting in the rivalling the [[Democratic Unionist Party (al-Digair)|"Registered" Democratic Unionist Party]] led by [[Jalal al-Digair]].


==History==
==History==
The party emerged in 1952 from the historic approach of the [[Khatmiyya]] [[Sufi order]], founded in the first half of the 19th century by [[Mohammed Uthman al-Mirghani]], and [[Ismail al-Azhari]]'s urban nationalist [[Ashigga Party]], established in 1943.<ref name="RLE">{{cite book |last=MacEoin |first=Denis |last2=Al-Shahi |first2=Ahmed |date= |title=Islam in the Modern World (RLE Politics of Islam) |url={{Google books|NdQpAAAAQBAJ|page=93|plainurl=y}} |location= |publisher= |page= |isbn=}}</ref> In Sudan's [[Sudanese parliamentary election, 1953|first parliamentary election]] the NUP won a legislative majority, making al-Azhari the first [[Prime Minister of Sudan|Sudanese Prime Minister]] under British–Egytptian colonial rule.<ref name=GlobalSecurity /> On 19 December 1955, shortly after the [[First Sudanese Civil War]] had broken out, al-Azhari, declared the [[Independence of Sudan]]. Internal divisions between the al-Azhari faction and the Khatmiyya order however led to a split in 1956, with the Khatmiyya order founding the new [[People's Democratic Party (Sudan)|People's Democratic Party]] (PDP). The party subsequently lost its majority, but remained a major political force even after [[Ibrahim Abboud|General Abboud]]'s short-lived 1958 [[coup d'état]].
The party emerged in 1952 from the historic approach of the [[Khatmiyya]] [[Sufi order]], founded in the first half of the 19th century by [[Mohammed Uthman al-Mirghani al-Khatim|Mohammed Uthman al-Mirghani II]], and [[Ismail al-Azhari]]'s urban nationalist [[Ashigga Party]], established in 1943.<ref name="RLE">{{cite book |last1=MacEoin |first1=Denis |last2=Al-Shahi |first2=Ahmed |title=Islam in the Modern World (RLE Politics of Islam) |url={{Google books|NdQpAAAAQBAJ|page=93|plainurl=y}} }}</ref> In Sudan's [[1953 Sudanese parliamentary election|first parliamentary election]] the NUP won a legislative majority, making al-Azhari the first [[Prime Minister of Sudan|Sudanese Prime Minister]] under [[Anglo-Egyptian Sudan|British–Egyptian colonial rule]].<ref name=GlobalSecurity /> On 19 December 1955, shortly after the [[First Sudanese Civil War]] had broken out, al-Azhari, declared the [[Independence of Sudan]]. Internal divisions between the al-Azhari faction and the Khatmiyya order however led to a split in 1956, with the Khatmiyya order founding the new [[People's Democratic Party (Sudan)|People's Democratic Party]] (PDP). The party subsequently lost its majority, but remained a major political force even after [[Ibrahim Abboud|General Abboud]]'s 1958 [[coup d'état]].


Al-Azhari and PDP leader [[Muhammad Uthman al-Mirghani]] reunited in 1968 in the presence of King [[Faisal of Saudi Arabia]]. Reestablished under the new name ''Democratic Unionist Party'' (DUP), the party won the [[Sudanese parliamentary election, 1968|1968 election]] and subsequently formed a coalition government with the [[Umma Party (Sudan)|Umma Party]]. The government's proposal of a basically Islamic constitution making Sudan a Muslim Arab state, however lead to [[Gaafar Nimeiry|Colonel Nimeiry]]'s second coup d'état and the abolition of the parliament.
Al-Azhari and PDP leader [[Muhammad Uthman al-Mirghani]] reunited in December 1967 in the presence of King [[Faisal of Saudi Arabia]]. Reestablished under the new name ''Democratic Unionist Party'' (DUP), the party won the [[1968 Sudanese parliamentary election|1968 election]] and subsequently formed a coalition government with the [[Umma Party (Sudan)|Umma Party]]. The government's proposal of an Islamic constitution thus making Sudan an [[Arabs|Arab]] [[Muslims|Muslim]] state lead to [[Gaafar Nimeiry|Colonel Nimeiry]]'s [[1969 Sudanese coup d'état|1969 coup]] d'état and the abolition of the parliament.


The party shortly returned to the political landscape in the [[Sudanese parliamentary election, 1986|1986 election]], where it became the second strongest force after the Umma Party. [[Ahmed al-Mirghani]] became [[President of Sudan]], until ousted by [[Omar al-Bashir]]'s 1989 military coup. Since then, the party's officials remained in exile. In 2001, the party once again suffered a split, when the party's General Secretariat accepted cabinet posts, while al-Mirghani's exile party refused participating in the [[unity government]].<ref name=Handbook14 /> With the splinter faction led by [[Jalal al-Digair]] referring to itself as the [[Democratic Unionist Party (al-Digair)|"Registered" Democratic Unionist Party]], the al-Mirghani section started calling itself the "Original" Democratic Unionist Party. Both factions independently participated in the [[Sudanese general election, 2015|2015 election]], but won less than 5% in an election widely seen as rigged and "not a credible expression of the will of the Sudanese people"<ref>{{cite press release |last= |first= |date=20 April 2015 |title=Joint Statement on Elections in Sudan |url=https://www.regjeringen.no/en/aktuelt/troika_elections_Sudan/id2407289/ |location= |publisher=[[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Norway)]] |agency= |access-date=2015-04-29}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |last= |first= |date=20 April 2015 |title=Troika statement on elections in Sudan |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/troika-statement-on-elections-in-sudan |location= |publisher=[[Foreign and Commonwealth Office]] |agency= |access-date=2015-04-29}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |last= |first= |date=20 April 2015 |title=Joint Statement on Elections in Sudan |url=http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2015/04/240887.htm |location= |publisher=[[United States Department of State]] |agency= |access-date=2015-04-28}}</ref>
The party shortly returned to the political landscape in the [[1986 Sudanese parliamentary election|1986 election]], where it won the largest number of votes though came second in number of seats having allowed too much freedom to its membership for constituency nominations. [[Ahmed al-Mirghani]] became [[President of Sudan]], until ousted by [[Omar al-Bashir]]'s [[1989 Sudanese coup d'état|1989 military coup]]. Since then, the party's Chairman remained outside Sudan while allowing its members to freely decide on the degree of participation in central and state governments.<ref name=Handbook14 /><ref>{{cite press release |date=20 April 2015 |title=Joint Statement on Elections in Sudan |url=https://www.regjeringen.no/en/aktuelt/troika_elections_Sudan/id2407289/ |publisher=[[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Norway)]] |access-date=2015-04-29}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |date=20 April 2015 |title=Troika statement on elections in Sudan |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/troika-statement-on-elections-in-sudan |publisher=[[Foreign and Commonwealth Office]] |access-date=2015-04-29}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |date=20 April 2015 |title=Joint Statement on Elections in Sudan |url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2015/04/240887.htm |publisher=[[United States Department of State]] |access-date=2015-04-28}}</ref> In November 2022, following [[Abdel Fattah al-Burhan|General al-Burhan's]] [[2021 Sudanese coup d'état|coup in 2021]], party leader Mohamed Osman al-Mirghani returned to lead the party from Sudan, then shortly returned to [[Egypt]] where he resided for the last 3 decades.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 21, 2022 |title=Chaotic return of DUP leader to Sudan |work=Sudan Tribune |url=https://sudantribune.com/article267137/}}</ref>


==Ideology==
==Ideology==
{{Unreferenced section|date=December 2017}}
The party's main platform is in favour of the unity of [[Sudan]] and previously [[Sudan]] and [[Egypt]] the downstream [[Nile River]] riparians.
The party's main platform is in favour of a united [[Sudan]], and previously a united [[Sudan]] and [[Egypt]].


The basic intellectual underpinnings of the party since its general congress in late 1960s, are: democratic pluralism (parliamentary) politically, socialism democracy economically, social justice, and the establishment of a neutral country towards religions as the only acceptable way for peaceful coexistence in a country with different components of ethnic, tribal, religious, intellectual and cultural aspects in order to ensure the principle of that the "The sole basis of rights and duties should be based upon the Citizenship alone.".
The basic intellectual underpinnings of the party since its general congress in late 1960s, are: [[Democracy|democratic]] [[Pluralism (political theory)|pluralism]] politically, a [[mixed economy]] economically, and the establishment of a [[Secularism|secular]] country towards as "the only acceptable way for peaceful coexistence in a country with different components of ethnic, tribal, religious, intellectual and cultural aspects in order to ensure the principle of that 'The sole basis of rights and duties should be based upon the Citizenship alone'."


The party has long-standing relations with the SPLM with whom it signed the Peace Deal of November 1988 in [[Ethiopia]] which was then opposed by the NIF party. It also enjoys good relationships with almost all the Sudanese political groups.
The party has long-standing relations with the [[Sudan People's Liberation Movement]] (SPLM) with whom it signed the Peace Deal of November 1988 in [[Ethiopia]] which was then opposed by the [[National Islamic Front]] (NIF). It also enjoys good relationships with almost all Sudanese political groups.


The last [[legislative]] [[elections in Sudan|elections]], December 2000, were boycotted by the party, as most of the political groups, described as unfair and rigged.
The last [[legislative]] [[elections in Sudan|elections]], December 2000, were boycotted by the party, as most of the political groups, described as unfair and rigged.


Through the [[National Democratic Alliance (Sudan)|National Democratic Alliance]] it played a major role in the opposition to the NIF regime in Sudan during 1989-2005 until the signing of the Cairo Peace Agreement between the [[National Democratic Alliance (Sudan)|NDA]] and the government of Sudan. As a consequence of its stances the DUP has suffered continuous attempts to divide and weaken it by the Sudanese security forces and the ruling party of Sudan, which seem to have failed so far.
Through the [[National Democratic Alliance (Sudan)|National Democratic Alliance]] it played a major role in the opposition to the NIF regime in Sudan from1989 until the signing of the Cairo Peace Agreement between the [[National Democratic Alliance (Sudan)|NDA]] and the [[Government of Sudan]] in 2005.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Agreement between the Government of Sudan and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) (Cairo Agreement) {{!}} UN Peacemaker |url=https://peacemaker.un.org/sudan-cairo-agreement2005 |access-date=2023-10-03 |website=peacemaker.un.org}}</ref> As a consequence of its stances the DUP has suffered continuous attempts to divide and weaken it by the Sudanese security forces and the ruling party of Sudan, which seem to have failed so far.


Since the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the [[SPLM]] and the government of Sudan, the party's position has shifted towards a more mediatory role attempting to re-align the old and new opposition parties in a comprehensive stance to tackle the broader Sudanese issues such as unity, elections and transition into democracy avoiding polarisation which it views as damaging to the long term interests of the country.
Since the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the SPLM and the Government of Sudan, the party's position has shifted towards a more mediatory role attempting to re-align the old and new opposition parties in a comprehensive stance to tackle the broader Sudanese issues such as unity, elections and transition into democracy avoiding polarisation which it views as damaging to the long term interests of the country.


It continues to view the [[National Democratic Alliance (Sudan)|National Democratic Alliance]] as a long term alliance that could rightly guide the political movement in [[Sudan]].
It continues to view the [[National Democratic Alliance (Sudan)|National Democratic Alliance]] as a long-term alliance that could rightly guide the political movement in [[Sudan]].


==Electoral performance==
== Electoral history ==

===Sudanese Parliamentary Elections===
=== Presidential elections ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
{| class="wikitable"
!'''Election'''
!Party candidate
!'''Votes'''
!'''%'''
!Result
|-
|-
|[[Sudanese general election, 2010|2010]]
! Year
|Hatim al-Sir
! Share of votes
|195,668
! Seats
|1.93%
|'''Lost''' {{Nay}}
|}

=== National Assembly elections ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+[[National Assembly (Sudan)|National Assembly]]
!'''Election'''
!Party leader
!'''Votes'''
!'''%'''
!'''Seats'''
!+/–
|-
|-
|[[Sudanese parliamentary election, 1953|1953]]
|[[Sudanese parliamentary election, 1953|1953]]
|[[Ismail al-Azhari]]
|
|229,221
|Not released
|{{Composition bar|51|97|#00A6EF}}
|{{Composition bar|51|97|#00A6EF}}
|{{increase}} 51
|-
|-
|[[Sudanese parliamentary election, 1958|1958]]
|[[Sudanese parliamentary election, 1958|1958]]
|[[Ismail al-Azhari]]
|
|Not released
|Not released
|{{Composition bar|45|173|#00A6EF}}
|{{Composition bar|45|173|#00A6EF}}
|{{decrease}} 6
|-
|-
|[[Sudanese parliamentary election, 1965|1965]]
|[[Sudanese parliamentary election, 1965|1965]]
|[[Ismail al-Azhari]]
|
|Not released
|Not released
|{{Composition bar|59|207|#00A6EF}}
|{{Composition bar|59|207|#00A6EF}}
|{{increase}} 14
|-
|-
|[[Sudanese parliamentary election, 1968|1968]]
|[[Sudanese parliamentary election, 1968|1968]]
|[[Ismail al-Azhari]]
|40.8
|742,226
|40.8%
|{{Composition bar|101|218|#00A6EF}}
|{{Composition bar|101|218|#00A6EF}}
|{{increase}} 63
|-
|[[Sudanese parliamentary election, 1974|1974]]
|
|{{Composition bar|0|274|#00A6EF}}
|-
|[[Sudanese parliamentary election, 1978|1978]]
|
|{{Composition bar|0|274|#00A6EF}}
|-
|[[Sudanese parliamentary election, 1980|1980]]
|
|{{Composition bar|0|368|#00A6EF}}
|-
|[[Sudanese parliamentary election, 1981–82|1981–82]]
|
|{{Composition bar|0|151|#00A6EF}}
|-
|-
|[[Sudanese parliamentary election, 1986|1986]]
|[[Sudanese parliamentary election, 1986|1986]]
|[[Ahmed al-Mirghani]]
| 60%
|1,163,961
|{{Composition bar|63|260|#00A6EF}}
|29.5
|-
|{{Composition bar|63|301|#00A6EF}}
|[[Sudanese general election, 1996|1996]]
|{{increase}} 63
|
|{{Composition bar|0|400|#00A6EF}}
|-
|[[Sudanese general election, 2000|2000]]
|
|{{Composition bar|0|426|#00A6EF}}
|-
|-
|[[Sudanese general election, 2010|2010]]
|[[Sudanese general election, 2010|2010]]
|Hatim al-Sir
|
|Not released
|{{Composition bar|4|426|#00A6EF}}
|Not released
|{{Composition bar|2|426|#00A6EF}}
|{{increase}} 2
|-
|-
|[[Sudanese general election, 2015|2015]]
|[[Sudanese general election, 2015|2015]]
|
|
|Not released
|{{Composition bar|25|426|#00A6EF}}
|Not released
|-
|{{Composition bar|
25|426|#00A6EF}}
|{{increase}} 23
|}
|}


==References==
== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}
{{reflist|30em}}


==External links
==External links==
*{{facebook|118231018197709}}

{{Sudanese political parties}}
{{Sudanese political parties}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Liberal parties in Sudan]]
[[Category:Liberal parties in Sudan]]
[[Category:Political parties established in 1952]]
[[Category:Political parties established in 1952]]
[[Category:Political parties in Sudan]]
[[Category:Sudanese democracy movements]]
[[Category:Sudanese democracy movements]]
[[Category:1952 establishments in Sudan]]

Latest revision as of 18:26, 3 October 2023

"National Unionist Party" redirects here. For the Greek political party, see National Unionist Party (Greece).
Democratic Unionist Party
الحزب الإتحادي الديموقراطي
Al Hizb Al-Ittihadi Al-Dimuqrati
FounderSayyid Ali al-Mirghani, Ismail Al-Azhari
Founded1952 (1952)
Merger ofKhatmiyya Sufi order
Ashigga Party
HeadquartersKhartoum
IdeologyNationalism
Liberal conservatism
Secularism
Historically:
Sudanese reunification
Political positionCentre-right[1]
National affiliationNational Democratic Alliance
National Assembly of Sudan
0 / 354
Council of States of Sudan
0 / 50
Party flag

The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP; Arabic: الحزب الإتحادي الديموقراطي, romanized: al-Hizb al-Ittihadi al-Dimuqrati), also referred to by itself as the Original Democratic Unionist Party, is a political party in Sudan, closely tied to the Khatmiyya Sufi order.

Established in 1952 as the National Unionist Party (NUP), it is one of two political parties predating Sudan's independence, along the Umma Party. Founded by Mohammed Uthman al-Mirghani II's Khatmiyya order and Ismail al-Azhari's urban nationalist Ashigga Party (est. 1943), it is often considered Sudan's oldest political party.[2] Having won a clear majority in Sudan's first parliamentary election, al-Azhari became Sudan's first prime minister, who in 1955 declared independence from colonial rule.

The party broke apart in 1956, with the Khatmiyya order founding the new People's Democratic Party (PDP), but reunited in 1967, resulting in the current name. In 1986, DUP leader Ahmed al-Mirghani became President of Sudan until ousted by Omar al-Bashir's military coup in 1989. While the party's official leadership around Muhammad Uthman al-Mirghani II remained in exile, the Khartoum-based Political Secretariat seceded in 2011, resulting in the rivalling the "Registered" Democratic Unionist Party led by Jalal al-Digair.

History[edit]

The party emerged in 1952 from the historic approach of the Khatmiyya Sufi order, founded in the first half of the 19th century by Mohammed Uthman al-Mirghani II, and Ismail al-Azhari's urban nationalist Ashigga Party, established in 1943.[3] In Sudan's first parliamentary election the NUP won a legislative majority, making al-Azhari the first Sudanese Prime Minister under British–Egyptian colonial rule.[2] On 19 December 1955, shortly after the First Sudanese Civil War had broken out, al-Azhari, declared the Independence of Sudan. Internal divisions between the al-Azhari faction and the Khatmiyya order however led to a split in 1956, with the Khatmiyya order founding the new People's Democratic Party (PDP). The party subsequently lost its majority, but remained a major political force even after General Abboud's 1958 coup d'état.

Al-Azhari and PDP leader Muhammad Uthman al-Mirghani reunited in December 1967 in the presence of King Faisal of Saudi Arabia. Reestablished under the new name Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), the party won the 1968 election and subsequently formed a coalition government with the Umma Party. The government's proposal of an Islamic constitution thus making Sudan an Arab Muslim state lead to Colonel Nimeiry's 1969 coup d'état and the abolition of the parliament.

The party shortly returned to the political landscape in the 1986 election, where it won the largest number of votes though came second in number of seats having allowed too much freedom to its membership for constituency nominations. Ahmed al-Mirghani became President of Sudan, until ousted by Omar al-Bashir's 1989 military coup. Since then, the party's Chairman remained outside Sudan while allowing its members to freely decide on the degree of participation in central and state governments.[1][4][5][6] In November 2022, following General al-Burhan's coup in 2021, party leader Mohamed Osman al-Mirghani returned to lead the party from Sudan, then shortly returned to Egypt where he resided for the last 3 decades.[7]

Ideology[edit]

The party's main platform is in favour of a united Sudan, and previously a united Sudan and Egypt.

The basic intellectual underpinnings of the party since its general congress in late 1960s, are: democratic pluralism politically, a mixed economy economically, and the establishment of a secular country towards as "the only acceptable way for peaceful coexistence in a country with different components of ethnic, tribal, religious, intellectual and cultural aspects in order to ensure the principle of that 'The sole basis of rights and duties should be based upon the Citizenship alone'."

The party has long-standing relations with the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) with whom it signed the Peace Deal of November 1988 in Ethiopia which was then opposed by the National Islamic Front (NIF). It also enjoys good relationships with almost all Sudanese political groups.

The last legislative elections, December 2000, were boycotted by the party, as most of the political groups, described as unfair and rigged.

Through the National Democratic Alliance it played a major role in the opposition to the NIF regime in Sudan from1989 until the signing of the Cairo Peace Agreement between the NDA and the Government of Sudan in 2005.[8] As a consequence of its stances the DUP has suffered continuous attempts to divide and weaken it by the Sudanese security forces and the ruling party of Sudan, which seem to have failed so far.

Since the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the SPLM and the Government of Sudan, the party's position has shifted towards a more mediatory role attempting to re-align the old and new opposition parties in a comprehensive stance to tackle the broader Sudanese issues such as unity, elections and transition into democracy avoiding polarisation which it views as damaging to the long term interests of the country.

It continues to view the National Democratic Alliance as a long-term alliance that could rightly guide the political movement in Sudan.

Electoral history[edit]

Presidential elections[edit]

Election Party candidate Votes % Result
2010 Hatim al-Sir 195,668 1.93% Lost Red XN

National Assembly elections[edit]

National Assembly
Election Party leader Votes % Seats +/–
1953 Ismail al-Azhari 229,221 Not released
51 / 97
 Increase 51
1958 Ismail al-Azhari Not released Not released
45 / 173
 Decrease 6
1965 Ismail al-Azhari Not released Not released
59 / 207
 Increase 14
1968 Ismail al-Azhari 742,226 40.8%
101 / 218
 Increase 63
1986 Ahmed al-Mirghani 1,163,961 29.5
63 / 301
 Increase 63
2010 Hatim al-Sir Not released Not released
2 / 426
 Increase 2
2015 Not released Not released
25 / 426
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References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Tom Lansford, ed. (2014). "Democratic Unionist Party". Political Handbook of the World 2014. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: CQ Press. pp. 1368 f. ISBN 978-1-4833-3328-1.
  2. ^ a b John Pike. "Democratic Unionist Party [DUP]". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  3. ^ MacEoin, Denis; Al-Shahi, Ahmed. Islam in the Modern World (RLE Politics of Islam).
  4. ^ "Joint Statement on Elections in Sudan" (Press release). Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Norway). 20 April 2015. Retrieved 2015-04-29.
  5. ^ "Troika statement on elections in Sudan" (Press release). Foreign and Commonwealth Office. 20 April 2015. Retrieved 2015-04-29.
  6. ^ "Joint Statement on Elections in Sudan" (Press release). United States Department of State. 20 April 2015. Retrieved 2015-04-28.
  7. ^ "Chaotic return of DUP leader to Sudan". Sudan Tribune. November 21, 2022.
  8. ^ "Agreement between the Government of Sudan and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) (Cairo Agreement) | UN Peacemaker". peacemaker.un.org. Retrieved 2023-10-03.

External links[edit]

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