NUP leadership rift widens over Tagadum coalition participation
June 6, 2024 (PORT SUDAN) – The rift between leaders of the National Umma Party (NUP) regarding their stance on the Tagadum coalition of civilian democratic forces has widened. Party leader Fadlallah Burma Nasir insists on participating in the coalition, threatening to refer his deputies to the disciplinary committee.
On Tuesday, NUP Deputy Chairman Mohamed Abdallah Al-Douma stated that the party leadership considers those participating in the Tagadum founding conference to be violating party decisions, and the party is not bound by the consequences of that participation in terms of decisions and bodies.
NUP Secretary-General Al-Watheq Al-Berair, Chairman Fadlallah Burma Nasir, Political Bureau member Zainab al-Sadiq Al-Mahdi, and her brother Siddiq participated in the Tagadum conference, which concluded its work in Addis Ababa last Thursday.
A statement issued by Acting Party Chairman Fadlallah Burma Nasir, received by Sudan Tribune, said, “The party’s participation in the founding conference of the Tagadum coalition is based on the decision of the Coordination Council in the Cairo meetings last March, which stipulated the issuance of a reform vision and the continuation of activity until the matter is decided by the Political Bureau.”
The statement indicated that the party’s participation in the Tagadum coalition was discussed in the Coordination Council meetings held in March, which resulted in the party memorandum to reform the coalition. This call for reform was presented to the Tagadum leadership committee in its meeting held before the conference. Most of the contents of the memorandum were responded to, and the coalition responded with a letter that the Coordination Council decided to discuss in a meeting held last May.
Nasir threatened to refer members, whom he accused of hijacking the presidency and violating the constitution, to the oversight and disciplinary committee through a legal memorandum by a committee that will be formed by the president.
He pointed out that constitutionally, the presidency institution is under the leadership of the party leader, and underscored that there is no description of the presidency institution in the constitution. He stated that its decisions are made with the approval of the president and in his presence. The institution does not have the authority to issue any decision regarding the party independently but can only make recommendations to the Coordination Council, he stressed.
Nasir indicated that the statement issued by the party’s deputy chairman, Mohamed Abdallah Al-Douma, was written, and approved by five members and signed by Al-Douma without assignment. He continued, “Despite the reservation of several members of the presidency, it was published without the president’s approval. It is a statement that only expresses the views of those who wrote it and does not represent the presidency.”