Syrian Social Nationalist Party in Lebanon Expels Hardan

Asaad Hardan (Central News Agency)
Asaad Hardan (Central News Agency)
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Syrian Social Nationalist Party in Lebanon Expels Hardan

Asaad Hardan (Central News Agency)
Asaad Hardan (Central News Agency)

Head of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party (SSNP) in Lebanon, Rabih Banat, issued a decision on Thursday expelling his predecessor, former MP Asaad Hardan, from the party.

In 2021, disputes broke out between SSNP rival branches over the legitimacy of the party’s internal elections, which at the time led to the victory of Banat.

Hardan rejected the results, and the party became divided between the known “Hardan wing” and the “Banat wing.”

While the SSNP had previously dismissed Hardan, the party announced Thursday an irreversible decision to expel him. It also stripped Hardan of the status of Secretariat.

This came after supporters of the two rival SSNP branches engaged in armed clashes over the weekend in the areas of Beit Shabab and Beit Mery.

Reports said the clashes erupted after Hardan's supporters stormed into the party’s offices affiliated with Banat in Beit Shabab (Northern Metn). The army intervened and worked to calm the situation.

On Saturday, the SSNP said that “a party office under renovation has been the subject of two ransacking and invasion attempts by armed groups affiliated with a personality whose hands are stained with the blood of the innocent and the money of the State Treasury.”

The “Hardan wing” responded to the Banat wing statement, describing it as “a childish justification for criminal acts punishable by law.”

It also said that the decision has absolutely no value and is linked to the 2007 US economic sanctions imposed on Hardan.

In return, the Banat wing said it took the decision to expel Hardan from the party after the former MP rebelled against the SSNP and repeatedly committed constitutional and administrative violations.



Hamdok: Sudan Faces Its Greatest Crisis in History

Former Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok. (Reuters)
Former Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok. (Reuters)
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Hamdok: Sudan Faces Its Greatest Crisis in History

Former Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok. (Reuters)
Former Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok. (Reuters)

Former Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, now leading the civilian Sudanese Coordination of Civil Democratic Forces (Tagadum) alliance, said reaching a ceasefire, addressing the humanitarian crisis, and protecting civilians are the first steps toward a political resolution to end the war in his country.

During a recent visit to the UK, Hamdok described Sudan as facing its worst crisis in history, with its very existence at stake.

“We might wake up tomorrow and not recognize Sudan,” he cautioned, urging the need to protect the country from destructive forces that have dominated it for 30 years, harming its institutions and resources.

At a seminar organized by Tagadum in London, Hamdok highlighted the choice before the Sudanese people: “We can either choose peace, democracy, and freedom, or we can continue down the path of war and destruction.”

“The decision is clear. War achieves nothing and cannot control the country’s future,” he affirmed.

“Our greatest achievements happen when we unite. We came together for independence and revolutions in the past, and the Dec. 2018 revolution is a continuation of that legacy. It is a movement that will not be defeated,” reminded Hamdok.

He emphasized that their motivation is to honor the martyrs by building a democratic nation that all Sudanese can be proud of.

“This terrible war has caused great division, with people dying over identity and regional differences,” said Hamdok.

He called for unity against war and said: “Within Tagadum, we are forming a broad coalition of Sudanese from all backgrounds. Our diversity is a blessing, not a curse. We need to come together to create the largest front against war, setting aside our differences to defeat evil and corruption.”

Hamdok also spoke at Chatham House, a prominent UK research institution, highlighting the need for a strong monitoring system in Sudan.

He suggested considering a no-fly zone to establish safe areas and discussed the potential deployment of ground forces to protect civilians.

He urged addressing the refugee situation in neighboring countries and called on the international community to fulfill its commitments.

Regarding ceasefire efforts, he noted that they should be integrated into the political process and backed by existing agreements, with effective monitoring using technology and satellites.