Tensions have emerged in Khartoum between Governor Ahmed Othman Hamza and the Islamist-linked Al-Baraa Ibn Malik Corps after authorities prevented the group from holding a memorial gathering for fighters killed in the battle of Umm Sumaymah.
The event was initially scheduled to take place at Khartoum’s Green Yard, but state authorities ordered its cancellation, prompting organisers to relocate the gathering to another venue outside the public square.
Ali Salah al-Din, a senior figure in the Al-Baraa Ibn Malik Corps, said in a social media post that the event was intended as a social occasion for the families of the dead and had no political or partisan objectives.
He said the gathering was designed to support the fighters’ relatives, strengthen family ties and provide them with an opportunity to meet and communicate.
The decision to move the event triggered debate over the regulation of public gatherings in Khartoum, with some voices calling on organisers of events linked to the war to comply with legal and administrative procedures.
The dispute comes amid heightened political sensitivity in the capital, where the growing public presence of Islamist armed groups aligned with the Sudanese Armed Forces has raised concerns about competition for influence and authority.
An operations commander from the Al-Baraa Ibn Malik Corps later addressed a message to the Khartoum governor, highlighting the role played by the group’s fallen fighters in battles for the capital.
He argued that their sacrifices had helped protect Khartoum and preserve the state government’s institutions and facilities, in remarks widely interpreted as criticism of the governor’s decision to block the memorial.
