Rédaction Africa Links 24 with SudanTribune
Published on 2024-03-31 01:50:09
On March 30, 2024, in Port Sudan, the Sudan’s National Umma Party (NUP) found itself at a crossroads as a prominent member, Rabah Al-Sadiq Al-Mahdi, publicly criticized the party’s handling of the ongoing conflict. Al-Sadiq accused the party of being hypocritical and selective in its condemnation of the army’s actions while ignoring alleged abuses by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). She stated that the party’s statements only served to “stain the NUP’s face” and called for accountability from those managing the party’s social media, claiming they were biased in favor of criticizing the army over the RSF.
The NUP had issued statements on the same day condemning both the army’s aerial bombardments and the RSF’s attacks on civilian villages in Al-Jazirah. However, Al-Sadiq argued that these pronouncements lacked “positive neutrality” and failed to address the full scope of the conflict. This dissent within the party brought to the surface simmering tensions among its senior leaders, who had submitted a reform memorandum to Abdallah Hamdok, the head of the anti-war coalition, criticizing Tagadum’s perceived bias towards the RSF and seeking greater NUP representation.
The situation escalated when the SCC’s statement criticizing Tagadum was not published on the NUP’s social media platforms. Al-Sadiq questioned the logic behind this decision and condemned the party’s silence on a local NUP leader’s involvement in the civilian administration established by the RSF in Al-Jazirah. The General Secretariat, led by Al-Wathiq Al-Berair, countered Al-Sadiq’s claims, arguing that the SCC meetings were unauthorized and that their decisions were invalid. They maintained that the SCC did not have the authority to issue statements and that their latest statement had not been properly vetted.
This dispute underscored the increasing pressure on the NUP to maintain neutrality in the face of escalating reports of RSF actions against civilians. Some party members found neutrality to be unsustainable in light of these developments, highlighting a broader challenge faced by Sudanese political forces that have yet to take a clear stance against the RSF. Observers viewed this internal conflict within the NUP as a symptom of the larger political landscape in Sudan, where the issue of standing firm against the RSF remains a contentious issue.
In conclusion, the NUP’s internal strife reflects the complex political dynamics at play in Sudan, where competing interests and loyalties are coming to a head in the midst of a conflict-ridden environment. The party’s ability to navigate these challenges and maintain its integrity and effectiveness as a political force will depend on its ability to address internal divisions and present a united front in the face of external pressures.
Read the original article on Sudan Tribune
