El Mahdi questioned for condemning RSF attacks in Darfur

The leader of the National Umma Party (NUP), El Sadig El Mahdi, was questioned by a National Security prosecutor at the Khartoum Sajana security office today. He was accompanied by a crowd of supporters and lawyers. The National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) filed a complaint against the NUP leader after he had accused the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), commanded by NISS, of attacking and destroying hundreds of villages in Darfur, resulting in the death of many civilians, and a massive displacement. He also condemned the government for allowing foreigners to join these Janjaweed militia in their raids. InterrogationsThe interrogations took less than half an hour. El Mahdi arrived in a vehicle, with one of his sons as driver, and his daughter Maryam El Sadig El Mahdi on his side. He was questioned by the prosecutor on the charges filed by NISS of defamation and breaching public safety.  El Mahdi was questioned by the prosecutor about his name, age, and position. He was confirmed his allegations about the RSF militias, and repeated his demand for investigations into the crimes they committed. He had to answer where he had his information on the RSF forces from. El Mahdi answered that “The abuses have taken place, and are clear to everyone. It is widely reported”. He reported that people have filed 200 cases against the RSF in El Obeid, North Kordofan, and 20 cases in Abu Zabad, also in North Kordofan.  He had repeated the words of Mohamed Ibn Chambas, the head of the UN-AU Mission in Darfur (Unamid) to the prosecutor. Ibn Chambas had earlier held the RSF militias responsible for the violence against civilians, and the deteriorating security situation in Darfur. The Umma Party leader did not mention the nationality of foreigners participating in the widespread attacks on civilians in Darfur, but it is likely that he was hinting at fighters from the Central African Republic, Chad, Libya, and Mali.   RiftEl Mahdi will give a press conference on Sunday. The case against him shows the internal rift within the ruling party, he told reporters today. “One part wants dialogue, and another part wants to continue with the current politics of war. Opening such a case against me is meant to threaten us, but what I said is the truth, and cannot be denied.” On Wednesday, the speaker of the National Assembly, El Fatih Izeldin had accused El Mahdi of treason, as the RSF should “rather be praised because of its dealing with the insurgents”.  News photo: A crowd of supporters wait for El Sadig El Mahdi to leave the security office after interrogations by the prosecutor today. El Sadig El Mahdi arrives at the Security Office in Sajana, Khartoum, on Thursday morningPeople carrying posters in support of the NUP leaderRelated: Umma Party leader charged by Sudan security, SPLM-N warns of new militia recruits (14 May 2014)