Islamists may reap some benefits from Sudan’s coup

Significance

The Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) coalition of civilian and rebel groups have rejected the deal, but Hamdok has justified it on the grounds that (among other things) it will prevent the return of the former ruling National Congress Party (NCP), apparently responding to ongoing speculation over whether NCP-era Islamists influenced Burhan’s October 25 coup.

Impacts

• Burhan will probably limit the work of the Empowerment Removal Committee, which aims to dismantle NCP-era power structures.
• Any empowerment of Islamists will likely be selective, to avoid alienating regional powers or FFC figures who might be open to cooperation.
• A marked turn towards Islamism would undermine the chances of a peace deal with holdout rebel groups who seek a secular state.