Sudanese opposition coalition rejects exile government proposal
December 8, 2024 (ENTEBBE, Uganda) – A Sudanese civilian coalition has definitively rejected a proposal to form a government-in-exile, a leading member said Sunday.
The proposal, put forward by the Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) during a leadership meeting earlier this month, faced strong opposition from within the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) coalition.
SRF leader Hadi Idris reportedly withdrew his support for the idea. Groups like the SPLM-N Revolutionary Democratic Current, other political parties such as the National Umma Party and the Sudanese Congress Party, and the resistance committees expressed their disapproval.
“The matter has been settled,” Shahab Ibrahim, an FFC leader, told Sudan Tribune. “The proposal will not be pursued due to the divisions it would cause.”
While acknowledging initial support for the idea, Mohamed Ismat, head of the United Federal Party, emphasized the need for thorough examination by governance, administration, economics, and international relations experts. He suggested that any future government, whether in exile or on the ground, should consider reinstating the December Revolution government led by Abdallaا Hamdok, the former prime minister.
Ismat framed his support for the proposal as resistance against the Islamist movement’s alleged agenda to divide the country.
However, heated debates within the coalition revealed sharp divisions. Some leaders proposed that the supporters of this government-in-exile leave the coalition because they would not follow them. Sources within the FFC indicated that some figures like Khalid Shawish and Saleh Ammar opposed the proposal, believing former Sovereign Council member Mohamed al-Hassan al-Taishi and Justice and Equality Movement leader Suleiman Sandal drove it.
Ultimately, the proposal was referred to a political committee, with the final decision resting with FFC leader Abdalla Hamdok. Resistance committees, civil society groups, and professionals rejected the idea outright. Sources revealed heated exchanges between Sandal and a major political party leader within the coalition.
A coalition group intervened, urging supporters and opponents to study the proposal through a political committee, which ultimately rejected it.
In a post on the X platform on December 6, the U.S. Special Envoy for Sudan, Tom Perriello, warned against unilateral declarations of new governing structures in Sudan, saying, “Such an action would be profoundly destabilizing for the region and risk fragmenting Sudan.”
A senior FFC member told Sudan Tribune that the coalition’s current priorities are to expand the civilian front by including all parties opposed to the war and to hold a roundtable discussion to address Sudan’s critical issues.
The source acknowledged that while some members believe a government-in-exile is necessary due to the lack of legitimacy of the warring factions, others fear such a move would further divide Sudan and empower those responsible for human rights abuses.
The discussions concluded that implementing the proposal would risk dividing Sudan and embolden the warring parties, leading to further chaos and fragmentation.