Experts believe that the veiled threats issued by SAF chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan to the “Taqaddum” civilian coordination group are aimed at “courting” politicians who have rejected the group’s efforts to form a new legitimate civilian government.
Some experts argue that the political and military developments in Sudan reflect attempts to reorganize the political landscape according to specific agendas. Others view the rhetoric at this stage as containing implicit threats intended to undermine efforts to establish a legitimate civilian government.
This analysis follows recent statements by al-Burhan, who directed a direct message to the “Taqaddum” civilian coordination group, warning that their support for the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) made them part of the crisis in the SAF’s view. He emphasized that “there is no place for you unless you stop supporting the rebellion,” according to his statement.
In response, Ahmed Tag, a leader in the Democratic Civil Forces Coordination (Taqaddum) and Secretary-General of the Sudanese Justice and Equality Movement, said that “Abdel Fattah al-Burhan is trying to hide undeniable facts.”
Tag emphasized that “the Sudanese people and political forces fully understand that the Islamic Movement and the National Congress Party have returned to the political scene through the so-called Battle of Dignity.”
Secretary-general added in a statement to Erm News that “al-Burhan has provided significant political cover for these groups, which now lead military operations and control the military scene. This will have a major impact on the political developments in the country.”
Escaping Reality
Tag confirmed that “Taqaddum, as a civilian and political force, pays little attention to such statements, considering them just an attempt to escape reality—that the Islamic Movement, in its various forms, has regained its position in the political scene, controlling the course of military operations.”
He also argued that these remarks are part of an effort to push forward a political agenda that serves the interests of the Islamic Movement, which holds political power over al-Burhan and his allies.
“The civilian forces are not concerned with formal measures al-Burhan may take, such as amending the constitutional document,” Tag noted. “This document is completely suspended, and there is no legitimate authority in the country; instead, a de facto authority operates from Port Sudan.”
De Facto Government
He explained that “political forces will exert all their efforts to block the path of the de facto government and work towards forming an inclusive government that represents all social components of Sudan, aiming to represent all sectors of the Sudanese population in international forums and focus on addressing the difficult living conditions, especially in areas outside the control of the Islamic Movement.”
The political forces, he continued, are uninterested in superficial attempts like drafting a new constitution to create a different political reality. He stressed that such measures “will not change anything in the overall situation and will not affect the positions of political forces determined to confront the expansion of the Islamic Movement.”
He further emphasized that al-Burhan’s talk of forming an independent civilian government is merely political nonsense, as it is clear that those who will come to power are from the Islamic Movement and factions loyal to the war agenda. He reiterated that the civilian forces are not distracted by these political maneuvers.
Tag concluded, saying that “political forces are working to confront this government, alongside their efforts to restore the legitimacy of the December revolution and form a civilian government capable of meeting the challenges the country faces during this difficult phase.”
Cutting the Path to Civilian Government
For his part, Dr. Alaa al-Din Naqd, a member of the “Taqaddum” coordination group, stated that al-Burhan’s recent comments regarding the formation of a technocratic government in Port Sudan, and his remarks about “Taqaddum” saying, “There is no place for you unless you stop supporting the rebellion,” as well as other comments about lifting the ban on certain politicians and welcoming those who “rectify their positions,” reflect the concerns of al-Burhan, the SAF, and the Islamists about an upcoming civilian government. He noted that these attempts aim to block it, but will fail.
Speaking to Erm News, Naqd explained, “These remarks would not have been made if the announcement of a legitimate civilian government by some members of ‘Taqaddum’ and other forces was not imminent in the coming days and weeks.”
He pointed out that “since the announcement of this step, there has been clear confusion in al-Burhan’s calculations, the National Congress Party, and the authorities in Port Sudan. This significant political move will have a major impact on the scene, as it will be the first effective political action to strip the false legitimacy from the Port Sudan authority and put an end to the National Congress and Islamists’ project, which ignited the war for their own interests.”
Naqd observed that “this move has provoked angry reactions from Islamists, military leaders, and remnants of the former regime, which is reflected in their anxious and contradictory statements. At times, they downplay its importance, while at other times, they attack it directly, indicating its profound impact on them.”
He added that “al-Burhan is now talking about forming a technocratic government in a clear attempt to block the path of the legitimate civilian government. He is also trying to court some politicians by hinting at lifting travel bans on them and welcoming those who reverse their positions. However, at the same time, he continues to threaten those seeking to form this government.”
Naqd concluded by affirming that “these maneuvers will not stop the next step, which is the announcement of a legitimate government that will reshape the political scene in Sudan.”
