Gosh Meets Dissolved Party Leaders and Al-Jakoumi in Asmara

Khartoum Highlight- Former Sudanese intelligence chief under al-Bashir, Lt. Gen. Salah Abdullah Gosh, is actively engaging in Asmara. He has held intensive meetings with leaders of the dissolved National Congress Party . Also he met northern political figures to discuss military and political projects for Sudan’s future. Reliable sources told Khartoum Highlight that Gosh met Mohamed Sid Ahmed Al-Jakoumi, a Revolutionary Front leader. They discuss forming a new armed force in Sudan.

Al-Jakoumi had earlier announced his contact with the Eritrean leadership to train a northern-only force. However, after his meeting with Gosh, the mandate changed. Gosh insisted that the force should appear national “at least formally.” Soon after, Al-Jakoumi issued a statement launching a new militia. He citing Sudan’s worsening security collapse due to war and state disorder. The militia’s charter opened recruitment to all Sudanese, describing it as “a temporary popular force. It said they will  carefully selected and strictly trained”.

At the same time Al-Jakoumi met President Afwerki, Gosh positioned himself as the patron of the new group, named the “Sudan Defense Force.”

Khartoum Highlight learned that Gosh also met with dissolved party leaders in Asmara. His activities raise questions within Sudan’s de facto authorities in Port Sudan.  Especially amid rising tensions following the unannounced visit of army chief Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan to Switzerland. During that visit, he met Massad Boulos, senior advisor to U.S. President Donald Trump on Middle East and Africa affairs.  They discuss ways to end the war in Sudan. Leaders of the dissolved party reportedly oppose such peace efforts and continue pressing for the war.  Hoping to reestablish the former regime with only minor changes at the top.