Hamdok: No return to power in Sudan, peace is my mission

October 31, 2024 (LONDON) – Former Sudanese Prime Minister and Tagadum leader  Abdalla Hamdok said on Thursday he has no desire to return to office and that his priority is ending the war in his country.

Speaking at a Chatham House event titled “Civilian priorities for ending the war in Sudan”, Hamdok, who heads the anti-war civilian forces coordination group “Tagadum”, ruled out any ambition to return to power.

“I am the last person who aspires to return to the position of Prime Minister,” Hamdok said. “Stopping the war is what is driving me, nothing else. My mission ends on the day we stop this war.”

Hamdok said he contacted both the head of Sudan’s ruling council, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the leader of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, in the early hours of the war to urge them to stop fighting.

He described Tagadum as a flexible organisation seeking to unite Sudanese people to end the war.

As leader of Tagadum, Hamdok set three priorities: addressing the humanitarian crisis, stopping and ending the war, and ensuring the return of democratic transition. He stressed the need to hold a roundtable conference in Sudan to bring together the widest front to address these issues.

Hamdok is accompanied by a Taqadum delegation including Ahmed Tud, Omer Manis, and Khalid Omer . They will hold meetings with British  government officials, political leaders and parliamentarians to discuss the Sudanese crisis and explore ways to end it.

Protesters opposed to Tagadum demonstrated outside Chatham House, chanting slogans in support of the Sudanese army. A large police presence prevented them from entering the venue.

Hamdok’s arrival was preceded by a social media campaign condemning the anti-war coalition, labelling it an ally of the “Janjaweed militia”. Tagadum leaders reject these accusations, saying they are neutral in the conflict.