Minawi cadres arrested in El Fasher and Nyala

Security authorities yesterday morning arrested about 18 people in El Fasher who were working in the offices of the ex-rebel governance body known as the ‘Transitional Authority.’ They also stormed the headquarters of the Minawi faction of the Sudan Liberation Movement in Nyala, where they arrested five people who were in the building.Moreover, according to the spokesman of the Minawi faction, large numbers of police forces with heavy weapons were recently deployed near the main headquarters of the movement in Omdurman. In an interview with Radio Dabanga, the spokesman called for the immediate release of the detainees.

Minawi, who was senior presidential advisor after signing a peace deal in May 2006, had been given special resources including access to the presidential motorpool. Yesterday the security authorities in Khartoum seized all cars of the Republican Palace that Minawi and his followers had used. Radio Dabanga learnt that the security authorities also requested the evacuation of a house formerly used by Minawi.