Sudan’s Umma Party rocked by internal split over war stance
March 30, 2024 (PORT SUDAN) – Sudan’s National Umma Party (NUP) faces a potential fracture as a senior member, Rabah Al-Sadiq Al-Mahdi, publicly disavowed the party’s recent statements on the ongoing conflict.
In a statement on Saturday, Al-Sadiq accused the party of hypocrisy, stating its pronouncements “stain the NUP’s face” by condemning only the army’s actions while ignoring alleged abuses by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
She demanded accountability for those managing the NUP’s social media, who she claims prioritize pronouncements critical of the army while neglecting RSF activities.
On Saturday, the NUP issued statements condemning both the army’s aerial bombardments and the RSF’s attacks on civilian villages in Al-Jazirah. Previously, the party condemned airstrikes in El Fasher by the Sudanese Air Forces. However, Al-Sadiq argues these pronouncements lack “positive neutrality.”
The dissent highlights simmering tensions within the NUP. Senior leaders in the party’s Supreme Coordination Council (SCC) reportedly submitted a reform memorandum to Abdallah Hamdok the head of the anti-war coalition. The memo criticizes Tagadum’s perceived bias towards the RSF and seeks increased NUP representation.
The situation escalated when SCC’s statement criticizing Tagadum was not published on the NUP’s social media. Al-Sadiq questions the logic behind this decision. She further condemns the party’s silence over a NUP local leader’s participation in the civilian administration formed by the RSF in Al-Jazirah.
The General Secretariat, led by Al-Wathiq Al-Berair, countered Al-Sadiq’s claims. They argue that the SCC meetings were unauthorized and that their decisions were invalid. The General Secretariat maintains the SCC lacks the authority to issue statements and that their latest one wasn’t properly vetted.
The dispute highlights the growing pressure on NUP’s neutrality. As RSF actions against civilians are increasingly reported, some party members find neutrality untenable. Observers see this as a broader challenge faced by Sudanese political forces who haven’t taken a clear stance against the RSF.
(ST)