Burhan alerts to potential division within Sudan’s former ruling party
By Yahaya Idris
Sudan’s armed forces chief, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, condemned the internal power struggle within the former ruling party on Monday, citing risks to the nation’s stability following the reinstatement of an ally of ousted dictator Omar al-Bashir as party leader.
The National Congress Party has substantial connections within the armed forces and seemingly wields significant influence over its decision-making, notably impeding attempts to establish a ceasefire during the protracted 19-month conflict with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
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The NCP, which was in power for three decades before Bashir was ousted by a popular uprising in 2019, has in recent days shown signs of an internal schism after the party’s advisory council elected Ahmed Haroun as party president.
Haroun is a close associate of Bashir and both men are wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity dating to the early 2000s war in Sudan’s Darfur region. In January, the United States offered a $5 million reward for Haroun’s capture.
In a speech, Burhan said the advisory council meeting was divisive. “We do not accept any political activity that threatens the unity of Sudan or its fighters,” he told a economic conference in Port Sudan.
“We do not need any (political) conflicts or divisions, we have one goal which is to defeat the rebels (RSF),” he added.
After the current war erupted, Haroun and several former top Bashir deputies were sprung from prison and remain at large.
