Female presidential candidate in Sudan optimist

Fatma Abdel Mahmoud from the Sudanese Democratic Socialist Union Party is the first female presidential candidate in Sudan's history. Her large political experience and remarkable cultural background makes her eligible to be the president. She talked to Echorouk about her experience in a patriarchal society.

• You finished the electoral campaign with a strong speech. Do you believe the Sudanese citizens got your message and will choose you to be their president?
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• I believe Sudanese people including women, men and children got my message thanks to the efforts I made. I am sure that the convinced citizen will vote for me without hesitation.
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• Is your political experience sufficient to be elected as president?
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• My political experience does not come back to my nomination as the first female minister in Sudan. I have been interested in politics since I was in college. I was interested in women’s issues and academic associations.
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• When I was appointed as a minister, I gave a complete command to Sudanese women. I was a member in the ministerial council and the secretary general of the Socialist Union. I was also a member in Parliament and the minister of sports and health. My last position was in the parliamentary affairs.
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• I was behind most of the achievements in favour of women. I convinced the ministers’ council to give women equal salary with men. We managed to make women benefit from pregnancy and maternity vacation. We also offered them the opportunity of voluntary work in Sudan and abroad. We presented many useful proposals regarding women to regional institutions.
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•  How did you think to run for office in an Arab patriarchal society?
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• Arab societies have a minimizing vision to women but this is based on traditions. Most of the Arab countries are Muslim. The Noble Quran says women are equal with men.
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• Do you believe that Sudanese citizens are ready to accept a woman as their president?
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• Sudanese people are cultivated and most of them including women and men are interested in politics and public affairs. Sudanese man respects women in family. This exceptional relation has existed in Sudan for many centuries.
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• How did authorities deal with you after you had run for office?
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• There was no discrimination against women only in the first step when I was accredited as a candidate. Three days after, my name was banned. I considered that as discrimination against women and had recourse to the High Court. The trial was fair and I was given the chance to run for office once again.
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• How did you get money to fund your electoral campaign?
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• I used my own money. I sold some of my properties and I am still into debt. Money has no value compared to the historical value and women’s role.
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• Will you leave politics if you do not win elections?
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• I will continue working in politics though I am optimist that I will win. Even if I am not elected, I will not consider myself as a looser.
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• Have you heard about Louisa Hanoune, the woman who run for office in Algeria, a few years ago?
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• Yet. I have heard about her. I know she did a lot for women. She was the first Arab woman and do you know that there was another African woman from Liberia. She run for office and she is now the president. I am proud of being the first Sudanese woman who run for office.