Sudan: The Sudan Federal Democratic Alliance (SFDA): domestic and international operations; violent activity; position within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) (1997-2002)

The Sudan Federal Democratic Alliance (SFDA) is described by the UK Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) as a "very small group launched in London on 5 February 1994," liberal democratic in outlook and led by former Umma Party politician Ahmed Ibrahim Diraige (Oct. 2001, Annex A). According to Political Handbook of the World 1999, the SFDA considers "all means to be legitimate" in its aim to end the al-Beshir regime, and proposes a "substantially decentralized federal structure for Sudan in which the traditional parties would play no role" (1999, 926).

A 1998 Human Rights Watch report described the SFDA as one of the "smaller NDA constituents with little or no military capacity" (Aug. 1998). The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is an alliance of opposition groups created in 1995 (AFP 24 Nov. 1999) and based in Asmara, Eritrea (IND Oct. 2001, Annex A).

No reports of operations or violent activities that specifically mention the SFDA were found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate, however, as a member of the NDA it may have participated in the following incidents.

Although Country Reports 2001 reports that the NDA did not undertake any "significant military offensives" during 2001, in 2000 it "carried out military offensives in limited areas" along the Ethiopian and Eritrean borders, as well as in areas in the south (2002), attacking government garrisons and the oil pipeline (ibid., section 1g). In November 2000 the NDA attacked the city of Kassala near the Eritrean border (ibid., section 1a; Al-Ahram 16-22 Nov. 2000; IRIN 13 Nov. 2000). Some 130 government forces, NDA troops and civilians were killed during fighting between government and NDA troops (ibid.; Al-Ahram 16-22 Nov. 2000).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Agence France Presse (AFP), 24 November 1994. Carol Pineau. "Sudanese Opposition Struggles for Unity." (NEXIS)

Al-Ahram [Cairo]. 16-22 November 2000. Gamal Nkrumah. "Battling for Control of Kassala." [Accessed 20 Mar. 2002]

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2001. 4 March 2002. "Sudan." [Accessed 19 Mar, 2002]

Human Rights Watch (HRW). August 1998. Vol. 10, No. 4(A). "Sudan: Global Trade, Local Impact." [Accessed 20 Mar. 2002]

Integrated Regional Information Network (IRIN). 13 November 2000. "IRIN Horn of Africa Update, 13 November." [Accessed 20 Mar. 2002]

Political Handbook of the World 1999. 1999. Edited by Arthur S. Banks and Thomas C. Muller. Binghamptom, NY: CSA Publications.

United Kingdom Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND). October 2001. Sudan Assessment. [Accesses 19 Mar. 2002]

Additional Sources Consulted

IRB Databases

Africa Confidential 1997-2002.

Africa South of the Sahara. 2000.

Europa World Year Book 2001.

Jane's Terrorism and Security Monitor

Jane's World Insurgency and Terrorism

NEXIS

WNC

Internet sites including:

AllAfrica

Amnesty International

BBC

East African Roundup

Sudan News & Views

US Committee for Refugees

United States Institute of Peace