Sudan Cracks Down on Ex-Ruling Party

Supporters of Sudan's ousted president Omar al-Bashir rally in Khartoum (File Photo: AFP)
Supporters of Sudan's ousted president Omar al-Bashir rally in Khartoum (File Photo: AFP)
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Sudan Cracks Down on Ex-Ruling Party

Supporters of Sudan's ousted president Omar al-Bashir rally in Khartoum (File Photo: AFP)
Supporters of Sudan's ousted president Omar al-Bashir rally in Khartoum (File Photo: AFP)

Sudan's security forces carried out a campaign of arrests against members of the dissolved National Congress Party (NCP), accusing them of inciting acts of violence, sabotage, and looting in a number of states.

The authorities arrested former leaders in Khartoum, most notably the assistant of ousted President Omar al-Bashir Hassabo Mohammad Abdalrahman, the former Minister Al-Amin Dafallah, and Bashir's uncle Tayeb Mustafa.

Earlier, security forces apprehended NCP leader Amin Hassan Omar, journalist Hussein Khojaly, and prominent columnist Ishaq Fadlallah.

This came following days of violent protests across the country.

A number of party leaders and cadres in the capital and various states were also arrested under the direction of the Dismantling of June 30 Regime Committee.

Sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the authorities issued arrest warrants against more than 200 leaders and activists of the National Party in North Darfur and el-Gadarif State, which witnessed major acts of violence.

North Darfur governor, Mohammad Hassan Arabi, said that five members were arrested for their involvement in acts of sabotage, including burning and looting of public facilities and markets and terrorizing unarmed citizens.

“It was an arranged and politically planned action by the former regime,” Arabi said in a Facebook post.

Protests erupted against the backdrop of the high prices and the scarcity of bread and fuel, but the authorities said they were exploited and turned into sabotage.

The committee asserted in a statement that it had sufficient information about the activities of former ruling party members, saying they committed arson acts, plundered properties, and terrorized unarmed citizens, which contradicts the protest pattern that the revolutionary forces have been organizing.

In December 2019, the Transitional Sovereign Council established the committee granting it broad powers to dismantle the former regime, fight corruption, and recover looted funds from the state.



Baghdad Fears Iranian Retaliation, Cites Iraq as Key Missile Route

Image of a drone launch from a video posted by the “Islamic Resistance in Iraq” on Telegram
Image of a drone launch from a video posted by the “Islamic Resistance in Iraq” on Telegram
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Baghdad Fears Iranian Retaliation, Cites Iraq as Key Missile Route

Image of a drone launch from a video posted by the “Islamic Resistance in Iraq” on Telegram
Image of a drone launch from a video posted by the “Islamic Resistance in Iraq” on Telegram

Politicians and analysts believe Iraq is particularly worried about a potential conflict between Iran and Israel. This is because Iraqi airspace and territory might be the main route for Iranian missiles.
While many Iraqis seem indifferent to the possibility of a war, there is a heated debate online. Some critics of Iran are dismissive of the threat, while its supporters expect a strong retaliation.
A political source close to the Coordination Framework warns that Iraq, given its location near both Iran and Israel, could be heavily affected by a conflict between Tehran and Tel Aviv.
The source, speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat under conditions of anonymity, noted that Iraq’s ability to prevent or handle the fallout from such a conflict is nearly nonexistent.
If a war breaks out, Iraqi territory will be exposed, similar to the situation in April when Iranian missiles flew over Iraq to strike Israel.
The source explained that Iranian attacks could happen in two ways: through missiles crossing Iraqi airspace or via missiles launched by Iranian-aligned factions inside Iraq.
In both cases, it would be very difficult for the Iraqi government to respond, given its lack of control over these groups.
There are also concerns that these factions might launch broader attacks on their own, even without direct orders.
Additionally, if the conflict escalates uncontrollably, Israel might target important infrastructure in Iraq directly. This includes possible threats to Basra’s ports, similar to past Israeli actions in Yemen, if Iraqi factions join the conflict on Iran's side.
Former diplomat Ghazi Faisal agrees that the Iraqi government has limited ability to avoid the fallout from a potential conflict between Iran and Israel.
Faisal told Asharq Al-Awsat that Baghdad is trying to stay neutral amid the regional tensions and conflicts, including those involving Iran.
Despite efforts to address factions responsible for past attacks, Faisal said the Iraqi government cannot control or deter armed groups linked to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.
While the Iraqi government aims to avoid war and supports Palestinian rights, Faisal warned that Iraq’s stance could become divided if a conflict breaks out, due to the complex ties between local factions and Tehran.