 | This article needs to beupdated. The reason given is: FFC split around 2021 or so; one group is FFC-FC. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(April 2023) |
Forces of Freedom and Change قوى إعلان الحرية والتغيير | |
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| Abbreviation | FFC |
| Leader | Central Council |
| Founded | 1 January 2019 (2019-01-01) |
| Ideology | Anti-authoritarianism Democratisation Women's rights |
| Political position | Big tent |
| Members | SRF SPA NCF SRC MANSAM MLN Sudan Call |
| Colours | Green Maroon |
| Website | |
| Facebook page | |
TheForces of Freedom and Change (FFC,[1] alsoAlliance for Freedom and Change, or AFC,[2] andDeclaration of Freedom and Change, or DFC;[3]Arabic:قوى إعلان الحرية والتغيير)[4] is a wide political coalition of civilian and rebel coalitions of Sudanese groups, including theSudanese Professionals Association,No to Oppression against Women Initiative,MANSAM, theSudan Revolutionary Front, theNational Consensus Forces, Sudan Call, the Unionist Gathering,[5][6] and theSudanese resistance committees,[7] created in January 2019 during the2018–19 Sudanese protests.[6] The FFC drafted a "Declaration of Freedom and Change"[8] and "Freedom and Change Charter" which called for presidentOmar al-Bashir to be removed from power, which occurred after several more months of protest in theApril 2019 Sudanese coup d'état.[9] The FFC continued coordinating protest actions, and in July 2019, negotiated a power-sharing plan with theTransitional Military Council (TMC) for atransition to return to democracy.[1][2] The agreement was signed on 17 July 2019.[3]
The2018–19 Sudanese protests had already lasted several weeks when a wide array of civilian and rebel coalitions of Sudanese groups, including theSudanese Professionals Association,No to Oppression against Women Initiative,MANSAM, theSudan Revolutionary Front, theNational Consensus Forces, Sudan Call, the Unionist Gathering,[5][6] and theSudanese resistance committees,[7] drafted and signed a "Declaration of Freedom and Change"[8] and "Freedom and Change Charter" in which they called for presidentOmar al-Bashir to be removed from power.[6] The alliance of groups supporting the charter came to be known by several similar names, including the "Forces of Freedom and Change" alliance (FFC or AFC). The 1 January 2019 declaration was signed by 22 organisations in total.[5]
In August 2019,Rosalind Marsden claimed that although Sudanese women and youth had played a major role in theSudanese Revolution, they had been "largely excluded from FFC decision-making bodies".[10]
On 4 November 2019, the FFC announced a new, formal top structure, consisting of a Central Council, a Coordination Council, and an Advisory Council. The Central Council is the "supreme political" body; the Coordination Council has executive powers; and the Advisory Council "will control and give counsel" to the Central Council. The Central Council and Advisory Council include representatives from the biggest signatories to the Declaration of Freedom and Change Charter, while the Advisory Council includes representatives from all the signatories.[11]
| Group | Names | Since | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA) |
| 4 Nov 2019 | [12] |
| National Consensus Forces (NCF) |
| 4 Nov 2019 | [12] |
| Sudan Call |
| 4 Nov 2019 | [12] |
| Unionist Gathering | (3 people) | [11] | |
| Alliance of Civil Forces | (3 people) | [11] | |
| Centre Stream for Change | (1 person) | [11] | |
| Republican Party (Sudan) | (1 person) | [11] | |
| Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) | (undecided as of 4 November 2019[update]) | [11] |
| Group | Names | Since | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| SPA | (3 people) | [11] | |
| NCF | (3 people) | [11] | |
| Sudan Call | (3 people) | [11] | |
| Unionist Gathering | (2 people) | [11] | |
| Alliance of Civil Forces | (2 people) | [11] | |
| Centre Stream for Change | (1 person) | [11] | |
| Republican Party (Sudan) | (1 person) | [11] | |
| SRF | (undecided as of 4 November 2019[update]) | [11] |
Throughout the first half of 2019, the FFC supported continuing mass peacefulcivil disobedience actions, especially mass street protests for several months. In April 2019, military forces rebelled against al-Bashir and arrested him in the2019 Sudanese coup d'état.[9]
The FFC continued coordinating protest actions, prior to the 3 JuneKhartoum massacre by theRapid Support Forces, and after the massacre. In July and August 2019, the FFC negotiated a detailed power-sharing plan with theTransitional Military Council (TMC) for aSudanese transition to democracy.[1][2] On 20 August 2019, the TMC transferred power to theSovereignty Council of five civilians nominated by the FFC, five military chosen by the TMC, and a civilian,Raja Nicola, chosen by mutual agreement between the FFC and the TMC.[13]
As of April 2023[update], the FFC had split into the FFC-CC (Central Council) versus the FFC-DB (Democratic Block). In early April 2023, negotiations between FFC-CC and FFC-DB for cooperation were underway.[14]
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)| Background | |
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