State Governor’s ‘inner circle’ arrested in Sudan

On Saturday and Sunday, security authorities in Port Sudan, Red Sea state, arrested more than 20 people on charges of collaborating with a foreign country. A witness told Radio Dabanga that the detainees include government officials and members of the ‘inner circle’ of Red Sea Governor Mohamed Taher Eila. Those arrested also include a driver for the Egyptian Consulate, several Sudanese employees at the same Consulate, the director of a shipping company, the head of the state’s youth organisation, and engineer, and a public relations employee of the Seaports Authority. The arrests came against the backdrop of conflicts and settling of accounts between the Sudanese central government in Khartoum, and the Red Sea state government. Khartoum complains that Governor Eila does not comply with orders, directives and instructions. The source said that those arrested have become super rich by running businesses in the state as followers of Governor Eila. Related: Red Sea State MP warns of famine in eastern Sudan (7 September 2014) ‘Humanitarian disaster in Red Sea State’: eastern Sudan MP (3 September 2014)