A leaked list circulating online has triggered renewed debate over alleged Islamist influence within Sudan’s foreign ministry, with activists claiming it identifies members linked to the Islamic Movement who served in the institution between 1989 and 2001.
The list, described by those sharing it as “sensitive,” includes more than 110 names of former diplomats, ambassadors and administrative officials who held positions during the early years of Omar al-Bashir’s rule following the June 1989 coup.
According to activists, the individuals named represent what they describe as a “core network” that helped shape Sudan’s foreign policy in line with the ideological agenda of the former regime.
Among those listed are several prominent political and diplomatic figures, including former ministers and senior diplomats such as Al-Dirdiri Mohamed Ahmed, Dafallah Al-Haj Ali and Atta Al-Mannan Bakhit. The list also includes ambassadors and officials such as Kamal Ismail, Siraj al-Din Hamid, Baha al-Din Hanafi and Abdelghani al-Naeem, as well as figures who later played roles in Sudan’s political landscape, including Moataz Moussa, Al-Khidir Haroun and Idris Mohamed Abdelkader.
The publication of the list comes amid ongoing debate over the politicisation of Sudan’s civil service and longstanding calls to review appointments made under previous governments based on political loyalty rather than professional merit.
Some observers say the timing of the leak is intended to highlight how ideological affiliations may have influenced key state institutions, including the foreign ministry, which critics argue contributed to Sudan’s diplomatic isolation during parts of the Bashir era.
Reactions to the list have been mixed. While some activists have welcomed its release as a step toward transparency and dismantling entrenched patronage networks, others have warned against using such lists for political score-settling without due legal process or clear evidence of wrongdoing.
No official statement has been issued by Sudanese authorities regarding the authenticity of the list or the allegations surrounding it.
