SCoP leader warns against parallel government in Sudan
February 23, 2025 (CAIRO) – Omer Aldigair, head of the Sudanese Congress Party (SCoP), accused domestic and foreign entities of pushing for the formation of a parallel government in Sudan. He warned against underestimating the seriousness of this initiative and the risk it poses to the country’s unity.
“It is a grave error to underestimate the danger of having two governments in a country that has suffered from a national integration crisis since its independence,” Aldigair said in a statement. He stressed that ignoring the support for this initiative is a dangerous denial of the situation.
Political and military groups signed a preliminary political charter on Saturday to form a parallel government in areas controlled by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) has also joined this initiative, suggesting growing support for the establishment of an alternative government.
Aldigair cautioned against dismissing the events taking place in Nairobi related to the launch of the parallel government. He argued that having two governments would exacerbate Sudan’s existing challenges in achieving national integration, managing diversity, and ensuring balanced development and justice.
He acknowledged that while his party opposes the idea of a parallel government, there is significant political and societal support for it. Ignoring this reality, he warned, is not a solution.
The SCoP leader expressed concern that this initiative could lead to further division in Sudan, especially with domestic and foreign actors actively promoting this path. He specifically criticized forces from the former regime, accusing them of not learning from their past mistakes that led to the separation of South Sudan.
He highlighted the events in Port Sudan and Nairobi as evidence of the ongoing struggle for legitimacy in Sudan. Al-Digair reiterated his party’s stance that the October 25, 2021 coup ended the legitimacy of the government established after the December revolution. He argued that the coup leaders’ acceptance of the Framework Agreement was an acknowledgement of this lost legitimacy.
Aldigair asserted that true legitimacy cannot be achieved through a parallel government or amendments to an expired constitutional document. Instead, it requires stopping the war, restoring civil space, and achieving a national consensus on a transitional authority with a mandate to hold elections.
He emphasized that the priority for all stakeholders should be to stop the war and prevent Sudan from sliding into further division. He called for unity among civilian forces and a national dialogue to address the root causes of the conflict and create a sustainable path forward.