Live streams

Sudan Leader Warns Against 'Political Islam'

SPLM-N Secretary General Yasir Arman and South Sudan in Focus Host John Tanza at VOA's studio in Washington, D.C. (Courtesy photo)

TEXT SIZE - +

John Tanza

February 14, 2013

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A leading Sudanese architect of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement that ended Sudan's long civil war has warned Africa and the West against allowing the "political Islam" that is favored by Khartoum to gain ground in Africa.

"Political Islam-based movements in Africa are threatening African unity and stability," Yasir Arman, Secretary General of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), said in an interview with VOA News during a visit to Washington.

"There are millions of Muslims in Africa, but they belong to... the tolerant Islam that accepts others," Arman said.

"Political Islam, their biggest failure is that they don't accept diversity, they don't accept other religions like Christianity, which is another African religion. And now they're seriously ruling some African countries," he said.

Arman is visiting the United States at the invitation of the office of the U.S. special envoy to Sudan and South Sudan.

Arman, who is Muslim, called on other Muslims to take the lead in the fight against 'political Islam', and urged them to "not accept their misleading agenda," which he said goes "against the interests of Islam" and Africa.

To listen to the entire interview with Arman, click on the link below.

John Tanza interviews SPLM Secretary General Yassir Arman

Featured Videos

Your JavaScript is turned off or you have an old version of Adobe's Flash Player. Get the latest Flash player.

Video

Egyptian Support for Syrian Opposition is Words Over Action

Egypt has further aligned itself with those trying to overthrow Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. But as VOA's Elizabeth Arrott reports from Cairo, it remains unclear how far Egypt will back its words with action.