Wave of arrests of politicians, lawyers, activists across Sudan

Appart from arresting people joining demonstrations, the Sudanese National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) also arrested scores of lawyers, politicians and student activists outside Khartoum.On Friday in South Darfur the NISS arrested the prominent lawyer, Adam Sharif, who is the coordinator of the Darfur Bar Association as well as the opposition leader of the National Consensus Forces in South Darfur, Nadir Ahmed Yassin.The reason for their arrest has not been clarified. They were known for having condemned the government using live bullets against demonstrators in Nyala. The Darfur Bar Association has called the arrest “unconstitutional and against fundamental human rights”. It appealed for their immediate release or that they be formally charged.Shamsaldin Ahmed Saleh, spokesperson for the opposition parties, also called for their release. He asked the people of Nyala and South Darfur to continue their non-violent protest. KASSALA In Kassala, the security forces also began arresting opposition leaders and student activists on Friday. They arrested Suleiman, secretary of the Popular Congress Party together with Ahmed Mohamed Alshair, the student secretary of the party. At the same time they detained a student activist.The security forces arrived with a large group to arrest all three. Immediately after the arrest they started to surroud the main mosques in Kassala to prevent the faithful from joining demonstrations after the Friday prayers. WAD AL GADIDA Two students of the University in Wada Al Gadida, Mohkhsen Adam Abdalla Hagab and Mohamed Abdelmula together with an employee of the local water board, Yahya Mohamed Yahya, have been arrested. All three civilians are Darfuri. Six security officers arrested them on Thursday evening as they met with other students at the market.Their colleagues tried to protect them from detention, but they were not able to resist the force used by the officers. The students called Radio Dabanga, concerned about their three arrested colleagues, fearing they will be tortured and maltreated.EL GENEINAThe security authorities in El Geneina, West Darfur, reportedly arrested a number of leaders of political parties on Thursday, including the Secretary-General of the Popular Congress Party (PCP).An activist in El Geneina told Radio Dabanga the arrested include Secretary General Saifeldin Ahmed Osman, and the president of the Students Union of the PCP, Adam Digaish.“The security agency believes that the arrest of leaders of political parties preserves safekeeping. They fear that citizens might start demonstrating in El Geneina and the rest of West Darfur against the increase in prices,” she explained.The activist claimed that the demonstrations are “legitimate rights in accordance with the constitution and law.”She called the economic and security situations in El Geneina “tough” and expressed concern about the health conditions of the detainees, in particular Osman, “who is suffering from diabetes and hypertension.”Speaking to Radio Dabanga, the activist demanded the immediate release of all detainees.Picture: Arrested civlians in National Security House in Khartoum (Photo Radio Dabanga)