The Political Parties of
Sudan, Africa
This webpage is intended for those seeking information pertaining to historical facts and features of the Sudanese political parties. Some of the information covered will be their individual leaders, timeframes and objectives. In addition to the political parties, some of Sudan's present-day political conflicts and issues can be found.
As the largest country in Africa, Sudan has many different political features along with its geographical ones. All 7 parties will pinpointed.
The Umma Party (UP)
Sadiq al Mahdi
Originally founded in 1945 as a political organization of the Islamic Ansar Movement
The UP was a party dedicated to achieving its own Muslim political agenda for Sudan
Its supporters follow the strict teachings of the Mahdi, who ruled Sudan in the 1880s
After June 1989 coup, Sadiq al Mahdi was arrested and not released until early 1991
The UP was dedicated to achieving its own Muslim political agenda for Sudan
The Democratic Unionist
Party (DUP)
Muhammad Uthman al Mirghani
Based on a religious order, the Khatmiyyah organization and opposes the Mahdist Movement of the 1880s
This group is a direct opponent of the Ansar
Leader, Muhammad Uthman al Mirghani, tried to suppress tensions between the Ansar supporters and Khatmiyyah supporters
Late 1988, other DUP leaders persuaded Mirghani that their main focus was to seek out peaceful resolutions for the civil war
Leading up to June 1989 coup, Mirghani worked diligently to build support for peace resolution agreements
After the coup, Mirghani fled to exile in Egypt and has remained there.
The National Islamic Front
(NIF)
Hassan Abdallah al Turabi
Muslim Brotherhood, originated in Egypt in 1949
Emerged from Muslim students organized in Sudanese universities in the l940s
Most supporters are college educated
Objective is to institutionalize Islamic law in Sudan
Hassan Abdallah al Turabi (former dean of School of Law at Univ. of Khartoum) was a co-founder and secretary general since 1964
After 1989 coup, Turabi was arrested, along with all the other political party leaders.
Sudanese People's
Liberation Movement (SPLM)
Lt. Col. John Garang
Formed in 1983 when Lieutenant Colonel John Garang encouraged mutinies of southern Sudanese troops
He set himself as head of the rebellion against the Khartoum government
By 1986, the SPLA had approximately 12,500 followers, all of which were equipped with small arms. Some were mortars.
By 1989, SPLA grew 20-30,000; 1991 estimated 50-60,000 total. Members were broken up into battalions.
Republican Brothers
Religious party formed in the early 1980s
Founded by Sufi Shaykh, Mahmud Muhammad Taha in the 1950s as an Islamic reform movement
In January 1985 he was arrested and executed for heresy
He aroused a considerable amount of uproar in Sudan and was said to have helped precipitate the coup of 1989
Their objectives were quality of tolerance, justice, and mercy
Have not been politically active since 1989
Sudanese Communist Party (SCP)
Formed in 1944 to establish support groups in universities and labor unions
Although small, the SCP had become one of the country's best organized political parties by 1956 (when Sudan gained its independence)
Opposed by religious political parties and was banned and courted until 1971
Nimeiri ordered the arrest of hundreds of SCP members, including its secretary general; all were convicted of treason and executed
Began reorganizing in 1986
After 1989 coup, SCP resurfaced as one of the Bashir government's most effective opponents
November 1990, Babikr at Tijani at Tayib, who was secretary general, escaped house arrest and fled to Ethiopia
The Baath Party
Relatively small, sided with the Baath Party of Iraq
Objective was to unify Sudan with either Egypt or Libya to create a single nation encompassing all Arabic-speaking countries
Nimeiri and Bashir governments persecuted the Baath Party
More than 45 Baathists arrested during the summer of 1990
Restrictions against Baath Party were released at the end of the year of 1990 because of Sudan's support of Iraq during the Persian Gulf War
Effects of the Civil War in Sudan
Along with the grueling civil war in Sudan, many other issues face the government and their people. There have been millions of deaths of Sudanese troops and civilians because of this long, drawn-out war. There are numerous rebel groups that attack the cities of Sudan in rebellion toward the government. This is one of the main reasons that the war persists and and more and more tragedies are inflicted on the Sudanese people. The ironic thing about this all is that the rebel groups that are causing almost all the violence there, the government is not only in support of them, but also funding some of these militias.
When the "Darfur Disaster" emerged, it was fight between the Muslim north and the Christian south. Now it has escalated and now is almost completely Muslim, but still a division between the Africans and Arabs. Human rights groups say the government is giving air support to the Arab tribal militias in Darfur. But of course, the government refutes this saying that the tribesmen are defending themselves and denies aiding them.
Along with this type of civil uproar, there are hundreds of Sudanese Refugees crossing into Chad weekly!!! 200-300 cross the Chadian border from Darfur seeking safe hiding and food for their families. Sudanese militias have been looting and burning their homes. But along with this, the water supply at the refugee camps is scarce, and some have resorted to eating mukhet (a type of seed usually used in cattle feeding). Not only are they malnourished but suffering from diarrhea, respiratory infections, and conjunctivitis.
Some of the latest news on the war in Sudan is as follows:
More details, information, and updates can be found @:
www.sudan.net,www.cia.gov,www.geographic.org,www.ngs.org,
