Sudan: On Monday, Sudan’s armed forces leader, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, criticized internal conflicts within the former ruling National Congress Party (NCP), warning that such divisions threaten national unity as the country battles paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Burhan expressed concern over recent developments in the NCP, accusing them of undermining efforts to end the devastating 19-month war.
The NCP, which held power for three decades before the 2019 overthrow of Omar al-Bashir, has shown signs of internal fracture. This follows the election of Ahmed Haroun as its leader by the party’s advisory council. Haroun, a close ally of Bashir, is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity tied to the Darfur conflict in the early 2000s.
The U.S. has placed a $5 million bounty on Haroun’s capture, underscoring the gravity of the charges against him. Burhan, addressing an economic conference in Port Sudan, condemned the advisory council’s decision, calling it divisive. "We will not tolerate any political actions that jeopardize Sudan's unity or the cohesion of its armed forces,” he said. “Our sole objective is to defeat the RSF rebels.”
The war has further complicated Sudan’s political landscape. After the conflict erupted, Haroun and several former Bashir allies escaped from prison and remain fugitives. While Bashir is reportedly in custody in Meroe for medical reasons, Haroun’s appointment has deepened a rift within the NCP. Ibrahim Mahmoud, who previously led the party and recently returned to Sudan, rejected Haroun’s elevation and continues to claim leadership.
Islamist factions within and outside the NCP are actively participating in the conflict, some fighting alongside Sudan’s army. Notably, the Baraa Ibn Malik brigade, a militia linked to human rights abuses, has been involved in the war. Despite these affiliations, Burhan denied any political alignment within the army. “The fighters are not aligned with any group,” he asserted. “They are Sudanese patriots committed to defending their country.”
The mounting divisions within the NCP, coupled with the ongoing conflict, raise concerns about Sudan’s ability to achieve stability and address its pressing humanitarian crisis.