Opposition leader briefly detained in Khartoum

Sudanese security forces detained prominent opposition leader Farouk Abu Issa on Thursday in Khartoum over allegations that he solicited funds to overthrow the government of Sudan, according to state-run Sudanese Media Center. Farouk Abu Issa was detained on Thursday at 15:00 and released that night, about 21:00, he told Radio Dabanga after his release. He said that interrogators questioned him about his personal background.

A family member said that security forces broke into Abu Issa’s flat and, during the arrest, refused to allow him to take essential medications with him.

Abu Issa is chairman of the National Consensus Forces, a coalition of opposition groups in Sudan. He was in exile in Egypt before returning to Sudan in 2005 after a deal between the Khartoum government and opposition parties.