Sudanese political detainees begin hunger strike

November 26, 2021 (KHARTOUM) – Detained ministers and political leaders in Sudanese jails began a hunger strike on Friday to protest their continued arbitrary detention despite a political agreement between the military component and the prime minister.

The Sudanese Congress Party (SCP) on Friday said that the ministers and other political leaders, arrested after the military takeover, have launched an open-ended strike to “protest arbitrary detention since the October 25 coup and deprivation of their most basic legal rights”.

Among the political prisoners on hunger strike deposited Minister of Cabinet Affairs Khalid Omar Youssif, SCP Political Secretary Sharif Mohamed Osman, and FFC Spokesman and leading member of the Unionist Alliance Gaafar Hassan.

Also, are in prison: Mohamed al-Faki a Member of the Sovereign Council, Ibrahim al-Sheikh Minister of Industry and Wajdi Saleh Rapporteur of the Empowerment Removal Committee.

On Thursday evening, the security authorities released Mohamed Nagy al-Asam of the Sudanese Professional Association (SPA), Madani Abbas former Minister of Trade, Fayez al-Silaik former media advisor to Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok.

Also, were freed two SCP leading members Noureddine Salah and Hamza Farouk, in addition to civil society activist Nazim Siraj.

Abdel Fattah al-Burhan the head of the Sovereign Council pledged several times to release the government members and political leaders arrested after the coup.

However, he stated that any detainee who face a criminal charge would not be released.

Two days ago, Hamdok called to release the remaining detainees stressing that their detention would negatively impact the credibility of the political agreement they struck on  November 21.

(ST)