Activist group slams Sudan’s political coalition, calls for ‘revolutionary’ front

KHARTOUM, Sudan

A major activist group in Sudan has denounced the main political coalition that shared power with the military, calling for forming a “revolutionary front” against last month’s military takeover in the country.

In a statement on Monday, the Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA) said it was not part of any political settlement in Sudan.

"We call for the formation of a wide revolutionary front to bring down the coup…and form a transitional civilian authority,” the SPA statement said.

SPA was instrumental in mass protests that swept long-serving President Omar al-Bashir from power in 2019.

The statement came one day after the Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC) political coalition that had been sharing power with the military in a democratic transition since 2019, said 24 political groups agreed to form an “anti-coup front”.

FFC said the SPA was part of the new front, a claim denied by the activist group.

“We are not part of any calls for settlement or going back. Rather, we consider these calls a betrayal of the revolution and the people,” SPA said.

On Oct. 25, the head of Sudan’s ruling military council, Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, declared a state of emergency and dissolved the transitional Sovereign Council and government amid rival protests and accusations between the military and politicians in the country.

Al-Burhan insists that the measures are meant to protect the country from an “imminent danger” and accused those rejecting his move as “stirring chaos.”

Last week, al-Burhan issued a decree to form a new ruling transitional council, appointing himself its chairman.

Before the military takeover, Sudan was administered by a sovereign council of military and civilian officials which was overseeing the transition period until elections are held in 2023 as part of a precarious power-sharing pact between the military and FFC.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar in Ankara