Senior figures linked to Sudan’s dissolved ruling party and Islamist movement are locked in a growing dispute over whether to cooperate with the International Criminal Court, according to informed sources in Port Sudan.
The disagreement centers on Ali Karti and Ahmed Haroun, both prominent figures within Sudan’s former power structure.
Sources cited by local outlet Idrak said the rift was triggered by what some described as Karti’s “flexibility” toward the possibility of handing over individuals wanted by the ICC. Those reportedly under discussion include ousted president Omar al-Bashir, former defense minister Abdel Rahim Mohamed Hussein, and Haroun himself.
Haroun is said to have reacted angrily, reportedly labeling the idea a betrayal and accusing Karti of attempting to position him as a “scapegoat,” drawing comparisons to Ali Kushayb, who is currently facing charges at the court.
Sources warned that the dispute could spill beyond political circles, potentially affecting armed factions aligned with the group. Recent arrests involving members of the so-called “Al-Baraa Brigade” have been tentatively linked to the escalating tensions.
The standoff reflects deeper, long-standing divisions within Sudan’s Islamist movement, echoing past power struggles — most notably the split between Bashir and Islamist leader Hassan al-Turabi, which led to arrests and violent confrontations.
