Raino: Agencies

Khalid Omar, a member of the executive office of the Sumoud Alliance, responded to Sudanese army commander Abdel Fattah al-Burhan’s threat to prevent him from returning to Sudan.

Al-Burhan had threatened to prevent Sumoud Alliance leader Abdullah Hamdok and Omar, a leader in the alliance, from entering Sudan. In a speech after Friday prayers in southern Khartoum, he said that they “will not return to power” and that their feet “will not set foot on Sudanese soil as long as they are alive,” according to his statement.

In an interview with Sky News Arabia, Omar responded by saying, “It is truly unfortunate that people are preoccupied with such trivial matters at a time when millions of Sudanese are dying, 14 million are displaced, more than 25 million are in need of assistance, and a war is completely destroying the country.”

He added: “We are completely focused on working to end the war and bring peace to Sudan, and for a democratic civilian future in which the military does not control the country’s destiny, and the former regime and its henchmen do not return to control the people.”

He continued: “It seems that Al-Burhan has learned nothing from the lesson of former President Bashir, his predecessor, who repeated such threats against the civilian forces working for peace, stability, and civilian transition in Sudan, and mentioned similar threats before that they would not return to Sudan.” He added: “We remained in our country, and Bashir left without regret.”

Omar concluded his remarks by saying: “at the end, I say that we will return to our country, and no one—whoever they may be—has the right to prevent us from doing so.”