Violent Contestation of Power and Political Turbulence in Sudan: A Reflective Assessment of Generals Burhan and Hemedti Simmering Feud

Abstract

This study explores the complex power dynamics and political volatility that have defined Sudan's history by examining the simmering feud between Generals Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Hamdan Dagalo Hemedti. Thus, the study also reveals the fundamental structural elements causing political instability in Sudan's landscape that threaten the national democratic transition. The study relied on content analysis and a documentary approach; data were collected through secondary sources, and Marxist conflict theory was employed. The paper argued that the feud is a struggle for power exercise in the state and a quest to control the security architecture. Findings reveal that owing to the violent contest for power and persistent political turbulence in Sudan, the country's transition to democratic governance appears to be a mirage since diverse armed groups have resisted giving up their respective groups' interests for the national interest. The paper recommends that negotiations and dialogue are primarily needed to protect Sudan's territorial integrity and save it from state failure and disintegration. The policy implication of this study is that the study outcome provides a current and informative addition to our knowledge of power struggles and political upheaval in Africa by examining the ramifications of this dispute for achieving positive peace in regional and global affairs.