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Sudanese Authorities Arrest Second Opposition Leader Sudanese Authorities Arrest Second Opposition Leader
(3 months later)
KHARTOUM, Sudan — Sudanese authorities on Sunday arrested the leader of Sudan’s opposition Congress Party, a party official said, weeks after the arrest of another opposition leader set off violent antigovernment protests. KHARTOUM, Sudan — Sudanese authorities on Sunday arrested the leader of Sudan’s opposition Congress Party, a party official said, weeks after the arrest of another opposition leader set off violent antigovernment protests.
The arrests are likely to hurt the prospects for the national dialogue talks that were called by President Omar Hassan al-Bashir to ease tensions among Sudan’s political parties ahead of parliamentary and presidential elections scheduled for next year.The arrests are likely to hurt the prospects for the national dialogue talks that were called by President Omar Hassan al-Bashir to ease tensions among Sudan’s political parties ahead of parliamentary and presidential elections scheduled for next year.
Opposition parties in Sudan have voiced concern about the government’s mismanagement of the Darfur region, accusing it of killing civilians during a recent surge of violence there.Opposition parties in Sudan have voiced concern about the government’s mismanagement of the Darfur region, accusing it of killing civilians during a recent surge of violence there.
Western diplomats and Sudanese security officials estimate that thousands of people in Darfur have been killed since March in clashes between militias, with some supporting the government and others opposing it.Western diplomats and Sudanese security officials estimate that thousands of people in Darfur have been killed since March in clashes between militias, with some supporting the government and others opposing it.
The police detained the Congress Party’s leader, Ibrahim al-Sheikh, after he delivered a speech on Saturday, the party’s general secretary, Abdel Kayoum Awad, said.The police detained the Congress Party’s leader, Ibrahim al-Sheikh, after he delivered a speech on Saturday, the party’s general secretary, Abdel Kayoum Awad, said.
Mr. Awad said prosecutors charged Mr. Sheikh with undermining the constitutional order by spreading “harmful lies” after he blamed the government for the recent violence in Darfur in his speech.Mr. Awad said prosecutors charged Mr. Sheikh with undermining the constitutional order by spreading “harmful lies” after he blamed the government for the recent violence in Darfur in his speech.
Law and order has collapsed in much of the huge region, where mainly African tribes took up arms in 2003 against the Arab-led government in Khartoum, which they accused of discriminating against them.Law and order has collapsed in much of the huge region, where mainly African tribes took up arms in 2003 against the Arab-led government in Khartoum, which they accused of discriminating against them.
The conflict killed 300,000 people and displaced about two million, according to the United Nations. Mr. Bashir has a pending arrest warrant against him from the International Criminal Court on charges of masterminding genocide and other war crimes in Darfur.The conflict killed 300,000 people and displaced about two million, according to the United Nations. Mr. Bashir has a pending arrest warrant against him from the International Criminal Court on charges of masterminding genocide and other war crimes in Darfur.
Another opposition leader, Sadiq al-Mahdi, a former prime minister, was arrested on May 17. He was also charged with insulting the state security forces by accusing them of participating in the Darfur unrest.Another opposition leader, Sadiq al-Mahdi, a former prime minister, was arrested on May 17. He was also charged with insulting the state security forces by accusing them of participating in the Darfur unrest.
In response to that arrest, Mr. Mahdi’s Umma Party withdrew from the national dialogue talks.In response to that arrest, Mr. Mahdi’s Umma Party withdrew from the national dialogue talks.
Since then hundreds of Sudanese have gathered for protests after Friday prayers, calling for Mr. Mahdi’s release and chanting slogans like, “The people want to change the regime,” and, “Freedom, peace and justice.”Since then hundreds of Sudanese have gathered for protests after Friday prayers, calling for Mr. Mahdi’s release and chanting slogans like, “The people want to change the regime,” and, “Freedom, peace and justice.”