Sacked board chairman challenges ouster as leadership dispute hits Islamic Dawa Organization
May 23, 2026 (KAMPALA) – Disputes within the Islamic Dawa Organization surfaced publicly on Saturday as the dismissed Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Sheikh Abdul Rahman bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud, appeared officially to declare his recent removal invalid, leaving the rift to be resolved by the judiciary.
Al Mahmoud held a press conference on Saturday in the Ugandan capital, Kampala, after arriving from South Sudan.
He stated that he had previously visited Sudan in his capacity as the honorary head of the organization, where he met with the Chairman of the Sovereign Council, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, to brief him on developments following decisions by the dismantlement committee to confiscate the organization’s assets.
Al Mahmoud pledged to work toward institutional reform, improve the work environment, and ensure employees’ rights are upheld, stating that his team would focus on improving staff conditions.
On May 3, the Board of Trustees held an emergency meeting that removed the organization’s Secretary-General, Ahmed Mohamed Adam, and unanimously elected Yahya Adam Osman for a term spanning from 2026 to 2030.
The step was taken following the expiration of the former Secretary-General’s official term on Feb. 15, 2026, and his failure to respond to a letter from the Board Chairman calling for transition arrangements and a regular meeting, which the Board deemed a clear violation of the statute.
The board also decided to invalidate the decisions of a May 1 meeting called by the board of directors, declaring it illegitimate because the organization’s statute restricts the right to call Board of Trustees meetings solely to the chairman.
The May 1 meeting elected Qatar’s former ambassador to Sudan, Ali bin Hassan Al Hammadi, as chairman of the Board of Trustees. Al Hammadi arrived in Khartoum last week and announced the resumption of the organization’s activities from the Sudanese capital, while the same meeting extended the term of Secretary-General Ahmed Mohamed Adam.
Speaking at the Saturday press conference in Kampala, the head of the organization’s legal team, Abu Bakr Abdel Razeq, said Article 17 of the statute dictates that only the Chairman of the Board of Trustees can call meetings, requiring a two-month advance notice to the Secretary-General.
Abdel Razeq explained that the chairman had sent a letter to the former Secretary-General, whose term ended two months ago, to facilitate the Board of Trustees meeting, but the former Secretary-General did not comply, prompting the board to issue the invitation for the May 2 meeting.
He added that the Board of Trustees was surprised when the board of directors, which he described as lacking jurisdiction, issued a decision dismissing Sheikh Abdul Rahman bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud, despite his term lasting until 2028. The board of directors also issued a statement renewing confidence in the former Secretary-General, which Abdel Razeq called a violation of Article 17.
Abdel Razeq asserted that all issued decisions are void and that appeals have been filed in court. He noted that a judicial order has been issued to suspend the dismissal of Al Mahmoud and the appointment of the former Qatari ambassador as his replacement.
Speakers at the press conference revealed an upcoming court session to review the case, adding that government authorities have been notified not to deal with what they termed the illegitimate council.
Abdel Razeq also raised questions about financial irregularities, noting that financial support allocated for missions had not increased recently, and added that the current disputes are being handled through the courts.
The ongoing rift within the Islamic Dawa Organization reflects wider divisions among Islamists in Sudan. The faction led by the Secretary-General of the Islamic Movement in Sudan, Ali Karti, is accused of opposing Al Mahmoud, who reportedly sought to address numerous corruption files surrounding the organization’s activities in recent years.