Hadi Idris announces campaign to delegitimize Port Sudan military-led government
May 31, 2024 (ADDIS ABABA) – Hadi Idris, leader of the Revolutionary Front and a prominent figure in the Coordination of Civil Democratic Forces (Tagadum), announced efforts to delegitimize the military-led government established in Port Sudan, which he alleges is controlled by the Islamic Movement.
Following widespread destruction in the capital, Khartoum, due to ongoing conflict between the army and the Rapid Support Forces since mid-April of last year, the army has relocated the centre of national governance to Port Sudan in eastern Sudan.
In an interview with Sudan Tribune, Idris stated, “We have initiated procedures to delegitimize the Port Sudan government by informing diplomats about the risks it poses.”
He noted that many diplomats, especially those from Western nations, see delegitimization as a constructive measure. He further disclosed their intention to embark on a global tour to explain how the presence of the military-led government jeopardizes peace on local, regional, and international levels, as he said.
He added, “The Tagadum Coordination has the legitimacy of the peaceful revolution and is qualified to speak on behalf of the Sudanese people and to delegitimize the Islamic Movement in Port Sudan to prevent the division of Sudan.”
Idris stated that the Tagadum plans to continue urging the international community to pressure the army and the Rapid Support Forces to resume talks in Jeddah. They also aim to hold a round table with other Sudanese parties to discuss forming a government inside and outside Sudan.
Recently, reports suggested that Tagadum intended to announce a parallel government during their founding conference in Addis Ababa this week. However, the proposal failed to garner widespread support among the participants..
Idris, who heads the Sudan Liberation Movement—Transitional Council, clarified, “We are not talking about a government in exile, but the existing government in Port Sudan is illegitimate, as the constitution, legitimacy, and government collapsed after the outbreak of the war.”
He continued, “The government in Port Sudan is controlled by the Islamic Movement, evident in their insistence on continuing the war and avoiding the Jeddah process without providing alternative options for the Sudanese people.”
On Wednesday, Deputy Chairman of the Sovereign Council Malik Agar stated that the government would not return to the negotiating table in Jeddah, asserting that those demanding it should kill them and take their remains there.
These statements followed a call from U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Army Commander Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, urging a resumption of negotiations.
Earlier, the army conditioned the resumption of negotiations at the Jeddah process, mediated by Saudi Arabia and the U.S., on the withdrawal of the Rapid Support Forces from civilian homes, noting that the paramilitary forces did not adhere to an agreement on this respect made in May 2023
Hadi Idris criticized Malik Agar’s statement rejecting negotiations, highlighting that Agar, along with Darfur Region Governor Minni Arko Minawi and Finance Minister Gibril Ibrahim, were able to safely evacuate Khartoum after the war’s outbreak thanks to the Rapid Support Forces, who facilitated their departure.
Addressing Agar, he said, “If you wanted the war to continue, you should have stayed in Khartoum.”
Hadi Idris accused Agar, Minnawi, and Jibril of adopting the rhetoric of the Islamic Movement, stating, “This shows they are employees, and that is why they speak in the language of the Islamic Movement to avoid being dismissed from their positions.”
Hadi Idris was dismissed from his position as a member of the Sovereign Council for his stance against the war and his repeated calls to end it through negotiations.
Regarding the conference that Egypt intends to organize for political forces at the end of next June, Idris said the Tagadum Coordination has not yet received an official invitation from the Egyptian government.