Hamdok Holds Intensive Consultations to Reunite the Ruling FFC

The Sudanese Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok (Arabic website)
The Sudanese Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok (Arabic website)
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Hamdok Holds Intensive Consultations to Reunite the Ruling FFC

The Sudanese Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok (Arabic website)
The Sudanese Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok (Arabic website)

Sudanese Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok is resiliently trying to reconcile the Forces of Freedom and Change alliance (FFC) with its deserters a few days after security turmoil swept the Northeast African country due to fragmentation within revolutionaries.

On Sunday, Hamdok held a session with the FFC’s central council, which the country’s transitional government relies on as a political reference for civilian matters. This meeting took place after the prime minister talking with defectors from the alliance.

It is noteworthy that the FFC was formed in early January 2019, during the popular uprising that toppled the government of ousted President Omar al-Bashir on April 11, 2019.

Consequently, parties in the political organization signed the Declaration of Freedom and Change (DFC) as a precursor for how the country would be run in a post-Bashir era.

The FFC is considered the largest political alliance in Sudan’s history since its independence.

It includes alliances that opposed the Islamist regime, such as the left-leaning National Consensus Forces, the Sudan Call, which provides for partisan forces and armed movements, the Unionist Gathering, and the Sudanese Professionals Association other social and political forces.

The FFC led marathon negotiations with the Transitional Military Council, which took power after the fall of Bashir’s regime, which led to the signing of the DFC that provided for a power-sharing arrangement between civilians and military personnel.

According to the DFC, the military would assume charge of protecting sovereignty, but under the formation of two councils with equal powers. One of the councils will be held by military officials, while the other will be run by ministers who are chosen by the FFC.

Nevertheless, the ministries of defense and interior would not be chosen by the FFC.

Since the declaration’s signing, the FFC underwent turbulences that saw some parties exiting from the alliance over difficulties and differences in viewpoints after signing the DFC.



UN Chief Says Forcing Palestinians to Move Away Is against International Law

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres delivers a statement about the ongoing humanitarian situation and fighting between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, at the United Nations headquarters in New York, New York, USA, 08 April 2025. (EPA)
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres delivers a statement about the ongoing humanitarian situation and fighting between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, at the United Nations headquarters in New York, New York, USA, 08 April 2025. (EPA)
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UN Chief Says Forcing Palestinians to Move Away Is against International Law

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres delivers a statement about the ongoing humanitarian situation and fighting between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, at the United Nations headquarters in New York, New York, USA, 08 April 2025. (EPA)
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres delivers a statement about the ongoing humanitarian situation and fighting between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, at the United Nations headquarters in New York, New York, USA, 08 April 2025. (EPA)

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday said that it would be against international law for Palestinians to be forced to be moved away, responding to questions about a US push to take control of the Gaza Strip.

"To be forced to be moved away is something that is against international law," Guterres told a press briefing. "Palestinians must be able to live in a Palestinian state side by side with an Israeli state. That is the only solution that can bring peace to the Middle East."

Guterres also rejected a new Israeli proposal to control aid deliveries in Gaza, saying it risks "further controlling and callously limiting aid down to the last calorie and grain of flour."

"Let me be clear: We will not participate in any arrangement that does not fully respect the humanitarian principles: humanity, impartiality, independence and neutrality," Guterres told reporters.

No aid has been delivered to the Palestinian enclave of some 2.1 million people since March 2. Israel has said it would not allow the entry of all goods and supplies into Gaza until Palestinian militants Hamas release all remaining hostages.

COGAT, the Israeli military agency that coordinates aid, last week met with UN agencies and international aid groups and said it proposed "a structured monitoring and aid entry mechanism" for Gaza.

"The mechanism is designed to support aid organizations, enhance oversight and accountability, and ensure that assistance reaches the civilian population in need, rather than being diverted and stolen by Hamas," COGAT posted on X on Sunday.

Jonathan Whittall, the senior UN aid official for Gaza and the West Bank, said last week that there was no evidence of aid being diverted.

Israel last month resumed its bombardment of Gaza after a two-month truce and sent troops back into the enclave.

"Gaza is a killing field – and civilians are in an endless death loop," said Guterres as he again called for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, a permanent ceasefire, and full humanitarian access in Gaza.

"With crossing points into Gaza shut and aid blockaded, security is in shambles and our capacity to deliver has been strangled," he said.

"As the occupying power, Israel has unequivocal obligations under international law – including international humanitarian law and international human rights law," Guterres said.

That means Israel should facilitate relief programs and ensure food, medical care, hygiene and public-health standards in Gaza, he said. "None of that is happening today," he added.

Israel says it does not exercise effective control over Gaza and therefore is not an occupying power.

The war in Gaza was triggered on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas killed 1,200 people in southern Israel, and took some 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Since then, more than 50,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza health authorities.