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.



Iraq Frustrated by Iran’s Reluctance to Rein in Militias

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has cautioned leaders of the Coordination Framework about the threats facing Iraq due to the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran (X)
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has cautioned leaders of the Coordination Framework about the threats facing Iraq due to the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran (X)
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Iraq Frustrated by Iran’s Reluctance to Rein in Militias

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has cautioned leaders of the Coordination Framework about the threats facing Iraq due to the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran (X)
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has cautioned leaders of the Coordination Framework about the threats facing Iraq due to the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran (X)

A senior government official said Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has warned leaders of the Coordination Framework about the “risks to Iraq” from the growing conflict between Israel and Iran.

The official added that Iran is using “deception” when asked to distance its allied militias from the war.

Political and government figures are increasingly worried that Iraq could be hit, after two Israeli soldiers were killed in a drone strike on the Golan Heights early Friday.

Speaking anonymously to Asharq Al-Awsat, the official said al-Sudani is taking steps to keep Iraq out of the conflict.

These efforts include ramping up “political mediation” to persuade militias not to involve Iraq. The prime minister “informed Coordination Framework leaders of the risks” and urged them to “act quickly.”

The official also warned that an attack is still possible, saying intelligence shows the Iraqi militias launched the strike from outside Iraq, using weapons that came from Iraqi territory.

Al-Sudani’s Mediation Efforts

The Iraqi premier has chosen mediators, approved by Iran, to negotiate with militias about the conflict and conditions for de-escalation. These three individuals have previously acted as mediators in past crises.

Last week, Asharq Al-Awsat reported that al-Sudani asked three key Shiite figures to intervene and prevent militias from getting involved in the war between Hezbollah and Israel, after reports surfaced that Israel had identified 35 Iraqi targets.

Sources confirmed that Ammar al-Hakim is among the mediators, along with two other influential Shiite leaders whose names haven’t been disclosed.

However, two Iraqi militias—likely the al-Nujaba Movement led by Akram al-Kaabi and Kataib Hezbollah led by Abu Hussein al-Hamidawi—have refused to cooperate and continue launching rocket attacks on Israel.

The Iraqi official admitted that some militias are “stubborn,” but stressed that al-Sudani knows Iraq is “at the center of the storm.”

He reportedly told leaders of the Coordination Framework, “Iraq cannot avoid a military strike if it happens, so we must stay out of the war to protect the country.”

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, in a Friday sermon, stated that “Iran’s allies in the region won’t back down,” increasing concerns that Iraqi militias tied to Iran will continue attacking Israel.

Iraqi sources also reported that the Coordination Framework has reviewed an “intelligence report” on dozens of Iraqi targets that Israel might strike or assassinate.

Government Efforts to Prevent Escalation

Al-Sudani has blocked the flow of Iraqi funds into conflict zones, unlike previous leaders, according to the official.

He has worked closely with the US and its Treasury Department to strictly monitor financial movements, often insisting that Iran uses official channels to claim its dues from Iraq.

The official also said global auditing firms are now helping Iraq’s central bank oversee financial transactions, shutting down all previous routes for illicit money flows.

Since the Gaza war began on October 7, 2023, the US told Iraq it pressured Israel not to strike Iraq, as long as Iraq stays out of the conflict, the official added.

The US doesn’t oppose Iraq’s stance of condemning Israel, supporting Lebanon and Palestine, and sending aid.

But it “won’t accept any financial or military support to militias.”

Regarding Iran’s role, the official said Tehran claims militias act independently, dodging responsibility for reining them in.