Conflict in Sudan: civilians worry about a resurgence of Islamists of the former regime

In Sudan, fighting between General al-Burhan's army and General Hemedti's paramilitaries continues despite several successive truces. On the ground, civilians are worried about the influence exerted by Islamists in this conflict that has left more than 1,800 dead according to the NGO ACLED. Explanations.

People crossing al-Sittin (sixty) road south of Khartoum on May 30, 2023. AFP--

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Is the former Sudanese regime, allied with the Islamists, trying to take advantage of the current situation in order to return to power in Sudan? At least that is what civilians in Khartoum seriously fear. They are sounding the alarm and consider that the fighting continues because the Islamists are very influential within the Sudanese army, and do not want talks. They are thus now convinced of the existence of a "third force" involved in this war.

>> READ ALSO: Sudan: the army suspends negotiations on a truce and accuses the RSF of not respecting anything

They are, according to them, Islamists of the old regime. Several escaped from Kober prison at the start of clashes between the armed forces between General al-Burhan and General Hemedti's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on April 15, 2023.

« Dragging the country into civil war and chaos is in their interest. »

For the Umma party, the oldest in the country, the Islamists "planned everything". In a statement, it warned against calls for civilians to take up arms. They "seek to drag the country into civil war and chaos, it serves their interest," the text insists.

One of the politicians arrested during the coup in October 2021, Khaled Omar, recalls that the Muslim Brotherhood refused a framework agreement that had been signed between politicians and the military. "They deliberately sought to bring down the Hamdouk government [former transitional Sudanese prime minister]," he said.

For his part, Yassir Arman, one of the political leaders and member of the Forces of Freedom and Change, accuses supporters of former President Omar al-Bashir (1993-2019), of seeking to "exasperate ethnic differences" to plunge the country into chaos so that the people demand their return.

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Some do not fail to recall the words of Ali Karti, former adviser to the ousted president and leader of the Islamist movement in Sudan on the eve of the war. He made an impression, saying that: "The Islamists are on their way to regaining power.

According to several observers, the Muslim Brotherhood's entrenchment in state institutions gave them the opportunity to keep the flame of war alive in order to weaken the military and also to take revenge on the RSF who let down al-Bashir, even though he gave them everything.

Sudan: US ready to resume mediation when opposing forces are 'serious'

The United States assured on May 31, 2023 that it remained ready to mediate between the warring parties in Sudan, but on condition that they are "serious" about a truce, after paramilitary forces left talks initiated in recent weeks in Saudi Arabia. "Once the forces have made clear through their actions that they are serious about respecting the ceasefire, the United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are ready to resume facilitating the suspended discussions to find a negotiated solution to this conflict," a State Department spokesperson said during Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to Norway. (With AFP)

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