Peaceful El Mahdi protests after Friday prayers in Sudan

Crowds of people gathered at mosques in Rabak, White Nile State, and the mosque in Wad Nubawi, Omdurman, after Friday prayers, protesting the detention of National Umma Party leader El Sadig El Mahdi, similar to their peaceful demonstrations last week. The mobs on Friday afternoon called for the release of El Mahdi, who has been detained since 17 May this year for accusing the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for committing atrocities in Kordofan and Darfur. “They are responsible for the displacement, killing, and raping of civilians in Darfur and South Kordofan.” The national security apparatus detained him and took him to Kober prison in Khartoum North. Those who went to pray in the Ansar mosque in Rabak shouted slogans such as “The people of Sudan want the government to go, and the National Dialogue: no” and “El Sadig (El Mahdi) you were right, Hemeti and his forces are evil”. Last Friday, police forces used tear gas to disperse El Mahdi supporters in Omdurman. Now in Wad Nubawi, hundreds of people peacefully demonstrated before El Sayed Abdelrahman mosque. Abdel Mahmoud Abo told Radio Dabanga: “This protest is powerful, expressive, yet practiced in a civilised manner. All demonstrators are condemning the detention of their leader, and demanding his immediate release.” Abo is the secretary-general of the Ansar Affairs Association, the body of followers of Imam El Sadig El Mahdi. Abo confirmed to the Sudanese citizens: “The darkness of injustice is almost over. Now, all Sudanese know that the government has uttered slogans regarding the National Dialogue which it does not live up to. It has made, and now burned its promises to Sudan.” Photos: Demonstraters calling for the release of El Sadig El Mahdi and denouncing the Rapid Support Forces, Omdurman, Friday 30 MayRelated: Police disperse, detain El Mahdi protesters in Sudan (27 May 2014) Sudan police throws tear gas at Omdurman mosques Umma leader (23 May 2014)