National Umma Party plunges into internal strife amidst war of statements
May 23, 2024 (CAIRO)—The National Umma Party is embroiled in a war of words. Internal disputes have escalated to the point of questioning the legality and legitimacy of decisions, which threatens to divide the historic party.
The war has already caused divisions among armed movements in Darfur. Differing stances on the conflict have led to splits and leadership changes. Political parties, while initially appearing united, are now experiencing internal discord.
Within the National Umma Party, a recent meeting of the Leadership Institution led by Deputy Chairman Mohamed Abdallah Doma rejected the party’s participation in the Coordinating Meetings of the Civil Democratic Forces (Tagadam). The meeting criticized the selection of the party’s representatives for Tagadam, claiming it was done without proper consultation.
Acting party chairman Fadlallah Burma Nasir declared Doma’s meeting illegal and reaffirmed the party’s commitment to Tagadam. In December 2021, the Leadership Institution entrusted Burma Nasir with leading the party following the death of its leader, Imam Sadiq Al-Mahdi. At the time, it was agreed that decisions should be taken collegially.
Sudan Tribune reached Burma Nasir, who attributed the current turmoil to the war and stressed the party’s commitment to peace and unity. He also mentioned Tagadam’s positive response to the party’s reform memorandum. The deputy leader, Maryam Al-Sadiq Al-Mahdi, declined to comment on the situation.
This is not the first instance of conflicting statements from within the party. In March, Assistant President Rabah Al-Sadiq disavowed the party’s decisions and accused it of siding with the RSF despite its alleged violations. The party’s secretary-general, Al-Wathiq Al-Bereir, responded by questioning the legitimacy of Rabah Al-Sadiq’s statement.
A faction within the party, the “Institutional Reform Group,” actively opposes the decisions of the party’s president and secretary-general. In April, 13 state party leaders accused the party leadership of supporting the RSF and called for withdrawal from Tagadam.
The party leadership continues to face accusations of bias towards the RSF despite consistently claiming neutrality in the conflict. The ongoing war of statements and internal divisions within the National Umma Party highlight the challenges facing political parties in Sudan amidst the ongoing conflict.