Islamist leader's return sparks fears of NCP resurgence in Sudan
Returning from exile in Türkiye, NCP leader praises Taliban, condemns USA
The leader of Sudan's dissolved National Congress Party (NCP), Ibrahim Mahmoud Hamid, has returned to Port Sudan after spending over two years in Türkiye, a move that has sparked outrage among pro-democracy and anti-war opposition parties.
The NCP dominated Sudan's domestic politics for three decades from the 1990s through the 2010s. Its leader, Omar Al-Bashir, came to power in 1989 through a military coup and was overthrown by massive street protests in 2019, leading to the dissolution of the party and the imprisonment of many of its leaders.
The current party leader, Mahmoud, served in various positions under Al-Bashir, including governor of Kassala State, minister of interior, and deputy chair of the NCP. He was last in Sudan in 2021 when he was released following a six-month detention by the Committee for the Removal of NCP Empowerment, which was established to pursue leaders of the former regime and hold corrupt officials accountable.