Sudan’s Revolutionary Front expels member group amid deepening rift

January 21, 2025 (NAIROBI) – The Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF), a coalition of armed groups, has expelled one of its members, the United Popular Front (UPF), amid accusations of violating the coalition’s principles, deepening a rift within the groups due to the ongoing war.

The RSF, an alliance of several armed movements, said in a statement on Tuesday it had “permanently expelled” the UPF. The statement, signed by the Front’s leader al Hadi Idris, cited “serious violations” of the coalition’s bylaws and political commitments.

The UPF, however, claimed it had already withdrawn from the alliance. In its own statement, the UPF accused the Revolutionary Front of being unduly influenced by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and said the coalition had become a party to the ongoing conflict rather than a force for peace.

The Revolutionary Front is composed of splinter factions, each bearing the name of a larger original group. It includes the Sudan Liberation Movement – Transitional Council led by Idris, the Gathering of Sudan Liberation Forces led by Al-Tahir Hajer, the Sudanese Alliance led by Hafez Abdel Nabi, the Justice and Equality Movement led by Suleiman Sandal, and the Beja Conference led by Osama Said.

The expelled UPF, based mainly in eastern Sudan and led by al-Amin Daoud, accused the Revolutionary Front of deviating from its original principles and criticized Idris for remaining leader despite his expired term.

“Forming a government in areas under RSF control reflects a deviation from the principles upon which the Revolutionary Front was founded,” the UPF statement read. It added that the UPF’s decision to withdraw was based on maintaining an “independent position” in Sudan’s complex political landscape.

Since the outbreak of war between the Sudanese army and the RSF, the UPF has aligned itself with the army. Its forces are fighting alongside the military under the name of the “Eastern Orta (army) Forces.”

The conflict between the Sudanese army and the RSF has further fragmented the country’s political scene, with various groups aligning themselves with either side or attempting to remain neutral. The Revolutionary Front’s expulsion of the UPF highlights the growing tensions and shifting alliances within Sudan’s opposition landscape.

The SRF and the UPF were not immediately available for further comments.

The conflict in Sudan erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Army and RSF, plunging the country into a humanitarian crisis.