NISS detains more Sudanese Congress Party leaders

Agents of the Sudanese security apparatus detained Ibrahim El Sheikh, the former head of the Sudanese Congress Party (SCP), in Khartoum today.

Abdelgayoum Awad, a prominent SCP member, was held as well, Dr El Fateh El Sayed of the SCP reported to Radio Dabanga.

He said that Mastour Ahmed, the party’s Secretary-General, was detained a few hours later, “because of his call to the Sudanese to take to the streets to protest against the disastrous new measures of the government”.

Since last week, greater Khartoum is witnessing intensive preparations by the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) in anticipation of mass protests against the fuel price increases that were announced by Sudan’s Finance Minister on Thursday evening.

On Saturday, SCP’s deputy public relations officer, Abdallah Shamselkon Adam, was held by security agents in Khartoum. Khaled Omar Yousef, the deputy head of the party was detained on Friday afternoon.

The current party chairman, Omar El Digeir, said after the detention of Yousef that the actions of the NISS will not deter them from continuing their public campaigns for the sake of a democratic Sudan.

In 2014, Ibrahim El Sheikh was detained for three months. According to the charges, he had humiliated the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, commanded by the NISS, at a symposium by calling them “janjaweed with no religion or ethics, raping women, abusing and killing civilians”.