Sudan to liquidate ‘deep state’ institutions, media

On Monday, the Central Bank of Sudan issued a decision to seize and freeze the assets of trade union organisations, syndicates, and the Employers’ Union because of their affiliation with the former regime.

In a signed formal letter the bank stated that the move comes in accordance with the cabinet decision to form a committee to dismantle the deep state, the fight against corruption and recovery of stolen money, and dissolve unions, as well as professional associations that were affiliated with the defunct regime.

On Saturday, the head of the Committee to Dismantle the Deep State, Fight Corruption and Recover Funds in Sudan, Yasir El Ata, issued a decision to dissolve all trade unions and professional unions in the country, and seize or freeze their assets.

Media institutions established and fully funded by the former National Intelligence Security Service (NISS) for many years were to be liquidated as well. The decision included the Sudanese Centre for Press Services, the Sudan Media Centre, the Khartoum Electronic Media Centre, and the Sudan Vision newspaper.

The Sudan Vision newspaper officially informed the editors and their employees about this decision, who perceived the decision as a surprise because of the editorial policy that the newspaper has been taking in siding with the revolution and change that took place in the country after the December revolution.

Deep state media

As reported by Radio Dabanga last month, Sudan’s Minister of Information and Culture announced that measures have been taken to list media institutions owned by former state officials.

Minister Feisal Mohamed Saleh said in a press statement on Wednesday that the Ministry is filtering those media outlets set-up by officials of the former NISS.

He also pointed to similar measures taken against individually-owned media institutions yet financed by the state which were benefiting members of the National Congress Party and the Islamic Movement.

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