Nile River governor threatens FFC Sudan’s pro-democracy groups
December 29, 2023 (SHENDI) – Governor Mohamed al-Badawi of the Nile River state has given members of the Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC) and supporters of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) 72 hours to leave the state.
This ultimatum comes amid escalating tensions between the RSF and the Sudanese military, following the RSF’s takeover of the state of Al-Jazirah and its threat to expand its control to other states.
The northern, eastern, and central states of Sudan are witnessing widespread recruitment, mobilization, and arming campaigns for civilians to support the army to repel RSF’s potential attack.
The arming of civilians has drawn widespread criticism from political forces and human rights groups, who warn of the potential for a full-blown civil war engulfing the entire country.
During his address to a large crowd in the Shendi and Matama districts, Governor al-Badawi issued a direct threat to FFC and RSF members: “I send a message to any traitor, agent, fifth columnist, collaborator with the rebel, or leader of Freedom and Change to leave the state within three days. I urge any member of the Freedom and Change Party who is in the state to pack their belongings and leave without delay.”
A prominent FFC denounced the Nile River Governor’s statements as “inflammatory warmongering”. Shihab al-Tayeeb vehemently rejected the militarization campaigns and targeting of political party members and anti-war activists, which they perceived as a ploy by the remnants of the former regime to reclaim power through civil war, he stressed.
The spokesman for the SPLM – Revolutionary Democratic Current, Ahmed Al-Sayadi, criticized the mobilization and arming campaigns initiated by Governor al-Badawi, labelling them as “the agenda of the remnants of the former regime hostile to the revolution’s forces that brought them down.”
(ST)