The chairperson of the governance committee for Sudan's National Dialogue physically fought with another committee member during a meeting, prompting calls for his removal from his post.

Professor Barakat Musa el-Hawati scuffled with committee member Ali Akad during a recent meeting. Ali is also the chairperson of the Democratic Revolutionary Front of eastern Sudan.

“He moved from where he was seated, rushed and dragged me with my necktie. I removed his hand and told him that he is someone who is representing an academic institution so he is not supposed to behave like that," Ali told Radio Tamazuj. "Members asked him to apologize to me personally."

Ali said the altercations erupted when Tijani Sisi, chairperson of the Darfur Regional Authority and a presidential adviser, asked members of the committee not to talk about the Darfur referendum which was called for in the Darfur Peace Agreement signed in Doha. El-Hawati then ordered Tijani, Jalal el-Digeer, and a presidential adviser to leave the meeting, and attacked him, Ali said.

Some committee members have said that el-Hawati should be removed from his post due to his actions.