Senior figures from several factions of Sudan’s Islamist movement are reportedly preparing to hold a secret meeting in Turkey later this month to coordinate their political positions amid growing internal divisions and international pressure.
A source familiar with the arrangements told Sawt Al-Umma that the meeting is expected to bring together representatives of political and organisational groups linked to the Islamist movement.
According to the source, the talks will focus on developments following recent US measures targeting Islamist figures and networks, as well as the movement’s relationship with the Sudanese army leadership and its response to shifting political dynamics inside the country.
Internal power struggle
The source said the meeting is not expected to reunify the Islamist movement, which remains divided by disputes over leadership and influence.
The main rivalry reportedly involves a faction associated with Ali Karti and Ahmed Haroun and another aligned with Ibrahim Mahmoud and Nafie Ali Nafie.
Organisers had initially sought to hold the meeting in an Arab country, but authorities there reportedly declined to host it, prompting them to move the gathering to Turkey.
A second source said former president Omar al-Bashir, International Criminal Court suspect Ahmed Haroun and former vice-president Ali Osman Mohamed Taha would be among the most prominent figures absent from the talks.
Ali Karti, who has reportedly been based in Doha for several months, is expected to participate.
Support for army
Despite their internal differences, the factions reportedly agree on several key issues, including continued support for the Sudanese army, opposition to political forces that emerged from the December revolution and their position toward the Rapid Support Forces.
The meeting is also expected to discuss possible political scenarios for the coming period, including reported contacts between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Massad Boulos, a senior adviser to the US president.
Participants are also expected to assess the growing influence of armed movements that signed the Juba Peace Agreement and currently fight alongside the army.
Preparations for the gathering are being conducted under tight secrecy because of the sensitivity of the issues under discussion, the sources said.
Sawt Al-Umma said it was unable to obtain comments from Islamist leaders or the other individuals and organisations named in the report.
On June 15, the Broad Islamic Current announced that Ali Ahmed Karti had been re-elected as its leader for a 12th term, while engineer Qusai Mahjoub was appointed secretary-general.
The announcement followed the final meeting of the organisation’s presidential council, which discussed political and organisational issues related to Sudan’s current crisis.
Sudanese Islamist groups have faced mounting international scrutiny over their alleged role in supporting the army and seeking to restore political influence during the country’s ongoing war.
