Forces of Freedom and Change

{{short description|Sudanese electoral alliance}} {{use dmy dates|date=December 2019}} {{Infobox political party | name = Forces of Freedom and Change | native_name = قوى إعلان الحرية والتغيير | native_name_lang = ar | logo = Logo of the Forces of Freedom and Change.png | colorcode = {{party color|Forces of Freedom and Change}} | abbreviation = FFC | leader = Central Council | founded = {{start date|2019|1|1|df=yes}} | affiliation1_title = Members | affiliation1 = [[Sudan Revolutionary Front|SRF]] [[Sudanese Professionals Association|SPA]] [[National Consensus Forces|NCF]] [[Sudanese resistance committees|SRC]] [[MANSAM]] [[No to Oppression against Women Initiative|MLN]] Sudan Call | ideology = [[Anti-authoritarianism]] [[Democratisation]] [[Women's rights in Sudan|Women's rights]] | position = [[Big tent]] | colours = {{color box|#049142|border=darkgray}} [[Green]] {{color box|{{party color|Forces of Freedom and Change}}|border=darkgray}} [[Maroon (color)|Maroon]] | seats1_title = [[Transitional Legislative Council (Sudan)|Transitional Legislative Council]] | website = [https://www.facebook.com/FFCSDN/ Facebook page] | country = Sudan }} The '''Forces of Freedom and Change''' ('''FFC''',<ref name="AJE_transition_plan"/> also ''Alliance for Freedom and Change'', or AFC,<ref name="Vox_TMC_FFC_deal"/> and ''Declaration of Freedom and Change'', or DFC;<ref name="TMC_FFC_20190717_agreement"/> {{langx|ar|قوى إعلان الحرية والتغيير}})<ref name="BBC_Arabic_FFC"/> is a wide political coalition of civilian and rebel coalitions of Sudanese groups, including the [[Sudanese Professionals Association]], [[No to Oppression against Women Initiative]], [[MANSAM]], the [[Sudan Revolutionary Front]], the [[National Consensus Forces]], Sudan Call, the Unionist Gathering,<ref name="SPA_Declaration_Freedom_Change" /><ref name="SudTrib_FFC_created" /> and the [[Sudanese resistance committees]],<ref name="AJE_neighbourhoods" /> created in January 2019 during the [[2018–19 Sudanese protests]].<ref name="SudTrib_FFC_created" /> The FFC drafted a "Declaration of Freedom and Change"<ref name="Decl_freedom_change" /> and "Freedom and Change Charter" which called for president [[Omar al-Bashir]] to be removed from power, which occurred after several more months of protest in the [[2019 Sudanese coup d'état|April 2019 Sudanese coup d'état]].<ref name="AJE_alBurhan_TMC" /> The FFC continued coordinating protest actions, and in July 2019, negotiated a power-sharing plan with the [[Transitional Military Council (2019)|Transitional Military Council]] (TMC) for a [[2019 Sudanese transition to democracy|transition to return to democracy]].<ref name="AJE_transition_plan" /><ref name="Vox_TMC_FFC_deal" /> The agreement was signed on 17 July 2019.<ref name="TMC_FFC_20190717_agreement" />

==Creation and composition== The [[2018–19 Sudanese protests]] had already lasted several weeks when a wide array of civilian and rebel coalitions of Sudanese groups, including the [[Sudanese Professionals Association]], [[No to Oppression against Women Initiative]], [[MANSAM]], the [[Sudan Revolutionary Front]], the [[National Consensus Forces]], Sudan Call, the Unionist Gathering,<ref name="SPA_Declaration_Freedom_Change" /><ref name="SudTrib_FFC_created" /> and the [[Sudanese resistance committees]],<ref name="AJE_neighbourhoods" /> drafted and signed a "Declaration of Freedom and Change"<ref name="Decl_freedom_change" /> and "Freedom and Change Charter" in which they called for president [[Omar al-Bashir]] to be removed from power.<ref name="SudTrib_FFC_created" /> 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.<ref name="SPA_Declaration_Freedom_Change" />

In August 2019, [[Rosalind Marsden]] claimed that although Sudanese women and youth had played a major role in the [[Sudanese Revolution]], they had been "largely excluded from FFC decision-making bodies".<ref name="Marsden_FFC_women_youth" />

===November 2019 formalisation=== 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.<ref name="SudTrib_FFC_hierarchy" />

;Central Council {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" !Group !Names !Since !{{Refh}} |- |[[Sudanese Professionals Association]] (SPA) | *Ahmed Rabie *Haifa Faroug *Husam al-Amin *Ammar Yousif *Faisal Basher |4 Nov 2019 |<ref name="SUNA_FFC_some_members" /> |- |[[National Consensus Forces]] (NCF) | * Ali al-Raieh Sinhurri * Abdul Rahim Abdalla * Siddig Yousif * Jamal Idriss * Kamal Bolad |4 Nov 2019 |<ref name="SUNA_FFC_some_members" /> |- |[[Sudan Call]] | * Salah Manna * Mariam al-Sadig * Ibrahim al-Sheikh * Ahmed Shaker * Yousif Mohammad Zain * al-Sadig al-Zaeim |4 Nov 2019 |<ref name="SUNA_FFC_some_members" /> |- |[[Unionist Gathering]] |(3 people) | |<ref name="SudTrib_FFC_hierarchy" /> |- |[[Alliance of Civil Forces]] |(3 people) | |<ref name="SudTrib_FFC_hierarchy" /> |- |[[Centre Stream for Change]] |(1 person) | |<ref name="SudTrib_FFC_hierarchy" /> |- |[[Republican Party (Sudan)]] |(1 person) | |<ref name="SudTrib_FFC_hierarchy" /> |- |[[Sudanese Revolutionary Front]] (SRF) |(undecided {{as of|2019|11|04|lc=yes}}) | |<ref name="SudTrib_FFC_hierarchy" /> |- |}

;Coordination Council {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" !Group !Names !Since !{{Refh}} |- |SPA |(3 people) | |<ref name="SudTrib_FFC_hierarchy" /> |- |NCF |(3 people) | |<ref name="SudTrib_FFC_hierarchy" /> |- |Sudan Call |(3 people) | |<ref name="SudTrib_FFC_hierarchy" /> |- |Unionist Gathering |(2 people) | |<ref name="SudTrib_FFC_hierarchy" /> |- |Alliance of Civil Forces |(2 people) | |<ref name="SudTrib_FFC_hierarchy" /> |- |Centre Stream for Change |(1 person) | |<ref name="SudTrib_FFC_hierarchy" /> |- |Republican Party (Sudan) |(1 person) | |<ref name="SudTrib_FFC_hierarchy" /> |- |SRF |(undecided {{as of|2019|11|04|lc=yes}}) | |<ref name="SudTrib_FFC_hierarchy" /> |- |}

==Role in 2019 political changes== Throughout the first half of 2019, the FFC supported continuing mass peaceful [[civil disobedience]] actions, especially mass street protests for several months. In April 2019, military forces rebelled against al-Bashir and arrested him in the [[2019 Sudanese coup d'état]].<ref name="AJE_alBurhan_TMC" />

The FFC continued coordinating protest actions, prior to the 3 June [[Khartoum massacre]] by the [[Rapid Support Forces]], and after the massacre. In July and August 2019, the FFC negotiated a detailed power-sharing plan with the [[Transitional Military Council (2019)|Transitional Military Council]] (TMC) for a [[2019 Sudanese transition to democracy|Sudanese transition to democracy]].<ref name="AJE_transition_plan" /><ref name="Vox_TMC_FFC_deal" /> On 20 August 2019, the TMC transferred power to the [[Sovereignty Council (Sudan)|Sovereignty 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.<ref name="Dabanga_SCouncil_appointed" />

==Split: Central Council versus Democratic Block== {{As of|2023|04}}, 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.<ref name="Dabanga_breakthrough_on_security">{{cite Q|Q117787817|url-status=live}}</ref>

==References== <references>

<ref name="Decl_freedom_change">{{cite web | title = Declaration of freedom and change | website= [[Radio Dabanga]] |date = 1 January 2019 | url = https://www.dabangasudan.org/uploads/media/5cf94b02b2055.pdf | access-date = 16 July 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190716004035/https://www.dabangasudan.org/uploads/media/5cf94b02b2055.pdf |archive-date= 16 July 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="SPA_Declaration_Freedom_Change">{{cite web | title= Declaration of Freedom and Chang |trans-title =  | website= [[Sudanese Professionals Association|SPA]] |date =1 January 2019 | url = https://www.sudaneseprofessionals.org/en/declaration-of-freedom-and-change/ | access-date = 4 November 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20191104230627/https://www.sudaneseprofessionals.org/en/declaration-of-freedom-and-change/ |archive-date= 4 November 2019 |url-status=usurped }}</ref>

<ref name="BBC_Arabic_FFC">{{cite news | language =ar | title= مظاهرات السودان: ما هو تحالف إعلان الحرية والتغيير وما هي مطالبه؟ |trans-title = Sudan protests: what is the Declaration of Freedom and Change Alliance and what does it want? | date= 2019-04-25 |newspaper= [[BBC News]] | url= https://www.bbc.com/arabic/middleeast-48055973 |access-date=2019-12-29 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20191229212147/https://www.bbc.com/arabic/middleeast-48055973 |archive-date= 2019-12-29 |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="SudTrib_FFC_created">{{cite news | title= Sudan rebel umbrella calls to develop political charter for post-regime phase | date= 29 January 2019 |newspaper= [[Sudan Tribune]] | url= https://sudantribune.com/spip.php?article66986 |access-date= 9 July 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190708232527/https://sudantribune.com/spip.php?article66986 |archive-date= 8 July 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="AJE_alBurhan_TMC">{{cite news|title=Sudan's Ibn Auf steps down as head of military council|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/04/sudan-military-council-ruler-ibn-auf-steps-190412194737727.html|newspaper=[[Al Jazeera English|Al Jazeera]]|access-date=15 April 2019}}</ref>

<ref name="AJE_transition_plan">{{cite news |title='Our revolution won': Sudan's opposition lauds deal with military |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/07/sudan-military-council-opposition-reach-power-sharing-agreement-190705013332385.html |access-date=5 July 2019 |newspaper=[[Al Jazeera English]] |date=5 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190705015919/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/07/sudan-military-council-opposition-reach-power-sharing-agreement-190705013332385.html |archive-date=5 July 2019 |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref>

<ref name="Vox_TMC_FFC_deal">{{cite news | last1= Kirby | first1= Jen | title= Sudan's military and civilian opposition have reached a power-sharing deal | date= 6 July 2019 | newspaper= [[Vox (website)|Vox]] | url= https://www.vox.com/2019/7/5/20683001/sudan-power-sharing-agreement-sovereign-council-protests |access-date= 6 July 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190705235509/https://www.vox.com/2019/7/5/20683001/sudan-power-sharing-agreement-sovereign-council-protests |archive-date= 5 July 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="TMC_FFC_20190717_agreement">{{cite web |last1 = FFC|last2 = TMC |author1-link = Forces of Freedom and Change |author2-link = Transitional Military Council (2019) | last3 =Idris | first3 =Insaf | title = Political Agreement on establishing the structures and institutions of the transitional period between the Transitional Military Council and the Declaration of Freedom and Change Forces | newspaper = [[Radio Dabanga]] |date =17 July 2019 | url = https://www.dabangasudan.org/uploads/media/5d306eb7c2ab1.pdf | access-date = 18 July 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190718222047/https://www.dabangasudan.org/uploads/media/5d306eb7c2ab1.pdf |archive-date= 18 July 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="AJE_neighbourhoods">{{cite news | last1= Abbas | first1= Reem | title= In Sudan, neighbourhoods mobilised against al-Bashir | date= 8 May 2019 |newspaper= [[Al Jazeera English]] | url= https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/05/sudan-neighbourhoods-mobilised-al-bashir-190506182950504.html |access-date= 5 August 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190805192616/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/05/sudan-neighbourhoods-mobilised-al-bashir-190506182950504.html |archive-date= 5 August 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Marsden_FFC_women_youth">{{cite news | last1= Marsden | first1= Rosalind | title= Can Sudan achieve peace and democratic transition? | date= 13 August 2019 |newspaper= [[Sudan Tribune]] | url= https://sudantribune.com/spip.php?article67926 |access-date= 13 August 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190813080702/https://sudantribune.com/spip.php?article67926 |archive-date= 13 August 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Dabanga_SCouncil_appointed">{{cite news | title= Sudan's Sovereign Council appointed | date= 21 August 2019 |newspaper= [[Radio Dabanga]] | url= https://www.dabangasudan.org/en/all-news/article/sudan-s-sovereign-council-appointed |access-date= 21 August 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190821180608/https://www.dabangasudan.org/en/all-news/article/sudan-s-sovereign-council-appointed |archive-date= 21 August 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="SUNA_FFC_some_members">{{cite news | title=FFC picks Central Council's members |trans-title =  | date=4 November 2019 |agency = [[Sudan News Agency|SUNA]] |newspaper=[[Sudan Daily]] | url=https://sudandaily.org/en/2019/11/04/ffc-picks-central-councils-members/ |access-date=5 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191105222314/https://sudandaily.org/en/2019/11/04/ffc-picks-central-councils-members/ |archive-date= 5 November 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="SudTrib_FFC_hierarchy">{{cite news | title= Sudan's FFC forms enhanced leadership structures |trans-title =  | date= 5 November 2019 |newspaper= [[Sudan Tribune]] | url= https://sudantribune.com/spip.php?article68446 |access-date=5 November 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20191105211715/https://sudantribune.com/spip.php?article68446 |archive-date= 5 November 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>

</references>

{{Sudanese Revolution}}{{Sudanese political parties}} [[Category:2019 establishments in Sudan]] [[Category:Organisations of the Sudanese revolution]] [[Category:Organizations established in 2019]] [[Category:Political parties established in 2019]] [[Category:Political opposition alliances in the Arab world]] [[Category:Political organisations based in Sudan]] [[Category:Political party alliances in Sudan]] [[Category:Sudanese democracy movements]]