Islamist leader’s return raises concerns over NCP comeback in Sudan

Ibrahim Mahmoud Hamid, the leader of Sudan’s dissolved National Congress Party (NCP), has made a controversial return to Port Sudan after more than two years in exile in Turkey.

His arrival has ignited widespread outrage among pro-democracy and anti-war factions within the country.

The NCP, which ruled Sudan’s political landscape for three decades from the 1990s until the 2010s, saw its influence wane following the ousting of its leader, Omar Al-Bashir, in 2019.

Al-Bashir’s regime was toppled by a wave of massive street protests, leading to the dissolution of the NCP and the imprisonment of numerous party officials.

Mahmoud held the position of Minister of Interior from 2008 to 2019. He is notably recognized for his role in the violent suppression of protests against former dictator Omar al-Bashir, an action that ultimately led to his arrest in April 2019.

He has faced accusations of serious human rights violations, particularly during his tenure as he oversaw efforts to quash dissent.

Following the coup in 2019, he was taken into custody due to his role within the regime.

His last presence in Sudan was in 2021, after being released from a six-month detention by the Committee for the Removal of NCP Empowerment, a body tasked with pursuing leaders of the former regime and addressing corruption.

Upon his return, Mahmoud praised the Taliban and criticized the United States, statements that have only deepened fears of a potential resurgence of the NCP and its Islamist agenda in the tumultuous political climate of Sudan.

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