235 SLM prisoners of war released, claim that they were tortured

The ruling Sudanese military junta released 235 combatants of the Sudan Liberation Movement faction led by Minni Minawi and the Sudan Liberation Movement-Transitional Council (SLM-TC) from El Huda prison in Omdurman on Thursday.

Former SLM-TC head Nimir Abdelrahman, who was released as well, said that the prisoners were tortured at Karari Prison. Ten of them died due to lack of medical care and a shortage of medicines at El Huda prison, he claimed.

Albdelrahman expressed his happiness about the fall of the former regime and his optimism to participate in building the future of Sudan. He stressed the SLM-TC’s willingness to meet with all parties in order to achieve democracy and equal citizenship. He considered the military junta as an essential part of the change.

Security Committee

General Jamal Omar, head of the Security Committee of the Transitional Military Council, said in a speech at El Huda prison that the release of the prisoners fits within the framework of confidence-building measures. He called on those released to participate in dialogue, and a positive and fruitful integration into Sudan's future.

Amnesty

On Wednesday evening, Abdelfattah El Burhan, head of the military junta, issued a general amnesty for the prisoners of the two Sudan Liberation Movement factions. He demanded their immediate release in order to create good faith between the TMC and the armed movements.

The decision to release the prisoners came after a meeting between the deputy chairman of Sudan’s Transitional Military Council, Mohamed Hamdan ‘Hemeti’, and Minni Minawi in the Chadian capital N'Djamena, mediated by Chadian president Idris Deby last week.

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