Minnawi denies participation in crackdown on pro-democracy movement

October 29, 2021 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudan Liberation Movement of Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM) denied their alleged participation in the ongoing arrest campaigns of pro-democracy journalists, political leaders and civil society activists in Sudan.

“There are malicious rumours launched by some political forces that our forces participated in campaigns to arrest the protesters, (…) said the group leader on Friday in a statement extended to the Sudan Tribune on Friday.

Also, there are “rumours that our forces will participate in the crackdown on protesters tomorrow, Saturday, 30th October”.

Minnawi said they do not have any forces in the capital Khartoum except for personal protection.

“We stress that we have no interest to suppress peaceful demonstrations,” he added.

The SLM-MM and the Justice and Equality Movement formed a dissident faction of the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) and joined calls by the military component for a broad-based government including all the political forces that were part of the former regime except al-Bashir’s party.

Also, they staged a protest followed by a sit-in near the Sudanese presidency calling to dissolve Hamdok’s government.

Following the coup of 25 October, the SLM-MM issued a statement condemning the arrest of the FFC political leaders and government officials and called for their release.

However, the group stopped short of condemning the coup d’état.

“The situation that imposed itself in this way” is the result of the intransigence of the FFC Central Council and their rejection of “serious dialogue”, said the group.

Nonetheless, the former rebel group stressed its “full adherence to the democratic transition, the Constitutional Document, and the Juba Peace Agreement,” and called to restore the “constitutional order” in the country.

(ST)