Sudanese anti-war coalition grapples with reform demands at Uganda meeting

December 1, 2024 (ENTEBBE, Uganda) – A major Sudanese anti-war coalition will convene in Uganda this week for critical meetings amid internal discord and growing pressure to establish a government in exile.

The Tagadum coalition, formed in October 2023 to unite civilian and political groups against the ongoing conflict in Sudan, will hold its summit in Entebbe from Dec. 3-6. The meeting comes nearly seven months after Taqadum’s founding conference in Addis Ababa and amidst increasing calls for reform within the alliance.

Sources within Taqadum told Sudan Tribune that the Entebbe meeting will address organizational challenges and strategize on the ongoing war. Key issues include a memorandum submitted by the SPLM-N Revolutionary Democratic Current demanding structural reforms and concerns raised by the Resistance Committees over representation, which led them to freeze their participation in the coalition.

The Revolutionary Front, led by Hadi Idris, has proposed forming a government-in-exile. Other factions, including Taqadum’s leader, former Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok, have rejected this proposal. It was reportedly not even discussed at a recent preparatory meeting, with political forces outvoting the Revolutionary Front 6 to 4.

“Forming a government-in-exile is not on the agenda,” Fathi Abdu, spokesperson for a faction of the Gathering of Sudan Liberation Forces (GSLF) led by Tahir Hajer, told Sudan Tribune. He emphasized that the focus remains on developing Taqadum’s political vision and adapting to the evolving situation in Sudan.

Two preliminary meetings are scheduled before the main summit on Tuesday to address the concerns of the Resistance Committees and the SPLM-N Revolutionary Democratic Current. A separate meeting on Monday will bring together Hamdok, the Resistance Committees, and the SPLM-N Revolutionary Democratic Current to specifically discuss their respective demands and grievances.

Buthaina Dinar, a leading member of the SPLM-N Revolutionary Democratic Current, confirmed their participation in the meetings but noted that the agenda remains unclear.

Bakry Eljack, spokesperson for Taqadum, said 120 members representing all components of the coalition will attend the summit. He confirmed that expanding the leadership body by 20 members to ensure broader representation is also on the agenda.