What about Alhassan political future with Mirghani’s return to Sudan
November 20, 2022 (KHARTOUM) – Democratic Unionist Party leader Mohamed Osman al-Mirghani is expected to return to Sudan on Monday after a decade outside the country. But his arrival in Khartoum comes while the party is on the verge of breaking up because of a sharp power struggle between his two sons.
Al-Mirghani, who is also the guide of the Khatmiyya sect, is expected to put an end to the differences between Alhassan and Gaffar. The two sons have chosen two different camps about how to restore a civilian transitional government and deal with the military coup of October 25, 2022.
Alhassan joined the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) and Popular Congress Party that support a new draft transitional constitution that establishes a fully civilian government. While Gaffar allied with National Consensus Forces Minni Minnawi and Gibril Ibrahim to maintain the 2019 constitutional declaration and keep the partnership with the military.
Al-Mirghani largely made up his mind on the dispute and sided with Gaffar. In a video recording released on November 16, the party leader instructed Gaffar to bring order to the party and put an end to the actions of the “undisciplined elements” in the party.
However, the final picture of Hassan’s fate seems very vague, as he has continued to defy the decisions of the party’s institutions, which stripped him of any organizational status, including his position as deputy head of the party.
The party informed the Registrar of Political Parties of its decision to appoint Gaffar al-Mirghani as the sole deputy head of the party. The measure aims to counter any political action by Alhassan in the name of the party.
Conspiracy
Osama Hassouna, a DUP leading member supporting Alhassan told Sudan Tribune that the party is exposed to a large conspiracy and direct targeting of Alhassan. He added that the head of the party dissolved in 2013 secretariats, assigned new secretaries, and formed a steering committee headed by him and his deputy, Al-Hassan.
“Al-Mirghani cannot stand against the will of the people. He is the one who had been unanimously chosen by the Sudanese to confront the former regime and was the head of the National Democratic Alliance,” he added.
Warning against sedition
Ahead of the return of Al-Mirghani, a group that called itself the “Historic Leadership of the Democratic Unionist Party” released a statement warning against exploiting his return to create discord and strife within the al-Mirghani house, and fueling conflict between the brothers. The statement added that there are parties that seek to take advantage of this rift to achieve personal gains and work hard to create an alliance between them and the military component and loyal militias away from the revolution’s forces and their national parties.
“It would be difficult for Alhassan to move away from the umbrella of Mohamed Osman al-Mirghani,” said the statement.
“Gaffar’s assignment to deal with undisciplined elements is a clear indication that the leader is dissatisfied with the behaviour of Alhassan and former political secretary Ibrahim as he was forced to go out publicly in a video and audio recording to announce his official position,” stressed the statement.
Alhassan is not expected to publicly voice his opposition to the political line determined by his father Mohamed Osman, due to complex relations within the party, in which the family and Sufi order are superior to any other thing.
On Alhassan’s future within the current developments and the return of the party’s leader to Sudan, political analyst Ahmed Musa believes it would be difficult for him to distance himself from his father.
He told Sudan Tribune that the return of al-Mirghani after years and the momentum it will create will overwhelm the movements of Alhassan and Ibrahim, and they will not find much room for movement and will weaken their ability to manoeuvre.
Despite Alhassan’s continued support for the draft constitution of the Sudanese lawyers, other say that he might suspend his political activities and mark his distance from the party.
Sources close to Alhassan confirm that he is waiting to meet his father to talk to him about the recent developments and his position on the ongoing political process to resolve the crisis, before making a final decision.
(ST)