A group of political parties and armed movements participating in Sudan’s National Dialogue have announced their withdrawal from upcoming meetings to protest statements made by a top ruling party official dismissing the possibility of forming a new government.

Ibrahim Mahmud Hamid, the deputy head of organizational and party affairs for the ruling National Congress Party and member of the 7+7 Committee, was quoted as saying that anyone talking about formation of a transitional government is dreaming.

Suleiman Osman, representative of the National Front at the dialogue, confirmed in press statements that a number of political parties had withdrawn from committees of the dialogue because of what he termed Hamid's “provocative statement."

Meanwhile, Saad-Eddin Mohamed Al-Tayib, a member of the Governance and Outcomes Committee, said they raised a complaint to the presidency to inquire whether Hamid's statements represent the party's official position or not.

Professor Ibrahim Al-Radhi, representative of the Liberation and Justice Movement, has also criticized the statement, saying it caused confusion.