Sudan’s largest political party, the National Umma Party, is on the brink of a formal split after its acting leader dismissed several top deputies. Fadlallah Burma Nasser’s decision on August 7 to fire three deputies and other senior officials highlights the intense internal divisions fueled by the ongoing conflict.
The dismissed deputies— Ibrahim al-Amin, Mohamed Abdallah al-Doma, and Siddiq Mohamed Ismail—are known supporters of the General Abdel Fattah al Burhan’s army, opposing Nasser’s alignment with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Nasser justified the purge as necessary to “restore the party’s prestige” and prevent leadership roles from becoming “personal platforms.”
This move follows earlier clashes when Nasser signed a charter with the RSF, prompting an attempted ouster that was later overturned. Despite attempts at reconciliation in Abu Dhabi, the party’s fragile unity has collapsed, reflecting the broader fragmentation gripping Sudan amid 16 months of war.
Since the death of long-time leader Sadiq al-Mahdi in 2021, the party has struggled to navigate a path through Sudan’s deepening crisis. The latest upheaval signals that internal divisions within Sudan’s key political groups are escalating alongside the country’s violent conflict.
