The Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has strongly protested the South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s reception of a delegation from the Democratic Civilian Alliance for the Forces of the Revolution, known as “Samood,” led by former Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok.
In a statement on Sunday, the Ministry said:
“The Sudanese government rejects any engagement by African countries with this isolated group and the provision of platforms for them,”
adding that it will “reassess its relations with these countries in light of their support for national legitimacy and solidarity with the Sudanese people in their battle for dignity.”
On Saturday, the Samood delegation met with President Ramaphosa at the presidential palace in Pretoria, urging him to support peace efforts in Sudan, according to a statement from the Alliance’s media committee.
Ramaphosa expressed his country’s concern over developments in Sudan, affirming his commitment to engaging with regional stakeholders to help end the war and contribute to reconstruction efforts.
The meeting also addressed the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe facing the Sudanese people as a result of the war.
The statement noted that Sudan’s Foreign Ministry is closely monitoring the movements of the so-called Samood Alliance, which it described as one of the regional political arms supporting the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), seeking a political escape route after recent military setbacks.
The Ministry stated that this group “lacks popular support and represents no one but itself.” It also accused Samood of “creating the political atmosphere that led to the outbreak of war, by insisting on monopolizing civilian representation and managing the transitional period while excluding other forces.” The Ministry further blamed the group for “sabotaging every effort to launch a comprehensive national dialogue, both before and after the war.”
