Sudan's Resistance Committees Prepare to Hold 'Million-strong March' on Wednesday

Member of Transitional Sovereign Council Al-Hadi Idris. (SUNA)
Member of Transitional Sovereign Council Al-Hadi Idris. (SUNA)
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Sudan's Resistance Committees Prepare to Hold 'Million-strong March' on Wednesday

Member of Transitional Sovereign Council Al-Hadi Idris. (SUNA)
Member of Transitional Sovereign Council Al-Hadi Idris. (SUNA)

Sudan's Popular Resistance Committees called on citizens to participate in a million-strong march on April 6 to end military rule and restore civilian authority.

April 6 marks the second anniversary of the arrival of millions of Sudanese to the headquarters of the army's general command in central Khartoum, days after ousting President Omar al-Bashir.

The resistance committees hope the expected million-strong demonstration to be a milestone in the ongoing protests against the army's seizure of power in October.

Meanwhile, the Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF) launched an initiative and a roadmap to meet all political components, announced member of Transitional Sovereign Council Al-Hadi Idris.

Idris told the Sudan news agency (SUNA) that the dialogue adopted by the Revolutionary Front to resolve the Sudanese crisis will take place in two stages.

The roadmap suggested by the Front calls for confidence-building measures and releasing all political detainees, namely former members of the Empowerment Removal Committee.

It also wants to lift the state of emergency, ensure an end to violence against peaceful demonstrators, and form a neutral fact-finding committee to reveal the party behind the killing of the demonstrators.

He explained that the military is included in these measures and must begin releasing detainees and lifting the state of emergency to build confidence.

It must engage in a constructive dialogue between the parties to the Constitutional Document, Freedom and Change Forces, the peace parties, the resistance committees, and all the forces of the revolution to form the government.

Idris explained that this would help address the crisis that resulted from the recent developments and the return to the constitutional document and the democratic path.

The official stated that the UN Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) and the African Union (AU) would be the guarantors, facilitators, and mediators between the Sudanese parties in this initiative.

He explained that the Revolutionary Front is not a mediator but rather a partner, based on its position in the government and with all other powers.

If the first stage is completed successfully, the second stage will begin, said Idris, noting that it will include a comprehensive dialogue of all political forces, except for the National Conference, to discuss the elections, the constitutional conference, and the civil democratic transition.

Idris added that the initiative also addresses the form of the government and institutions, noting that dialogue could lead to a change in the form of the government, even if there are different opinions about the Sovereign Council, the Council of Ministers, and the Security and Defense Council.

The new government's priorities should be people's livelihood, peace, and preparation for elections, stressed Idris.

The Council member stressed that the ultimate purpose of the initiative is to save the country and rescue it from imminent collapse, adding that it is crucial to expedite the implementation of the initiative to ensure the dissolved National Congress would not return to the scene.



Houthis in Yemen Strip their Head of Govt of his Powers

The Houthis prevented Ahmed al-Rahwi from naming the head of his office. (Houthi media)
The Houthis prevented Ahmed al-Rahwi from naming the head of his office. (Houthi media)
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Houthis in Yemen Strip their Head of Govt of his Powers

The Houthis prevented Ahmed al-Rahwi from naming the head of his office. (Houthi media)
The Houthis prevented Ahmed al-Rahwi from naming the head of his office. (Houthi media)

The Iran-backed Houthi militias have prevented their so-called prime minister, Ahmed al-Rahwi, from naming the head of his office.

The Houthis have instead forced him to appoint a person of their choosing against his wishes, revealed informed sources in the Houthi-held capital Sanaa.

The Houthis are attempting to strip al-Rahwi, who was named as head of the militias’ new government, of his powers, making his appointment simply a cover for imposing their agenda and favoring Houthis who are descended of the line of their leader Abdulmalik al-Houthi.

The sources revealed that al-Rahwi had headed to the government headquarters with Rabih al-Mehdi, the director of the office of his predecessor. Mehdi hails from the Abyan province that is held by the legitimate government.

Al-Rahwi was seeking to keep al-Mehdi in his post. However, a leading Houthi member, Mohammed Qassem al-Kabisi, who used to occupy the position of government secretary, barred him from making the appointment.

Kabisi even prevented al-Mehdi from entering his office, resulting in an argument with al-Rahwi.

Kabisi informed al-Rahwi that he had no authority in naming the head of his office, saying that he does instead.

Al-Rahwi turned to the Houthis’ so-called ruling high political council to resolve the dispute and was informed that he should accept Kabisi as head of his office despite his objection.

A decree was issued days later naming Kabisi to the post.

He will effectively hold absolute power in government, while al-Rahwi will simply play a figurative role and only be needed to approve decisions and procedures taken by the Houthi leadership, joining other ministers who have no real duties.

The Houthis have formed a new government that will follow in the footsteps of its predecessor in keeping actual power to the militias themselves.

The new lineup includes a pro-Houthi figure, with no diplomatic background or experience, who was named foreign minister, replacing leading General People's Congress member Hisham Sharaf.

The appointment only fueled claims that the Houthis were seeking to eliminate their partners from rule. Al-Rahwi himself had no say in the lineup.

The Houthis announced the formation of their government on August 12. It met on August 17 to discuss its program, referred it to parliament the same day and by the next morning, an announcement was made that it was approved with no amendments or objections.

The incident with al-Rahwi has fueled speculation that the coming period will witness more struggles for power among the Houthis and their partners, whom they are trying to keep out of rule.

Observers noted that Kabisi is the son of a top Houthi leader. Qassem al-Kabisi is one of the founders of the group and is close to their leader Abdulmalik al-Houthi.

The senior Houthi officials believe they have the right to represent the Houthis in rule since they are its founders and oldest members.