Sudan accuses Eritrea of spying through Khartoum community clubs: report

KHARTOUM, Jan 19 (AFP) — Sudanese authorities closed two clubs of the Eritrean community in Khartoum after finding out that activities harmful to Sudan’s national security were being conducted there, a press report said on Monday.

Independent Al-Sahafa daily quoted an unnamed “informed source” as saying the security authorities obtained “authentic information” that “espionage and other activities irrelevant to the nature of the clubs were being practised in them”.

This necessitated the closure of the clubs and the arrest of some suspects “who made detailed confessions about the unlawful activities they used to practise”, the source said.

The “informed source” accused Asmara’s ruling Eritrean Popular Front of using the community clubs “for activities that are harmful to the security and stability of the Sudan”.

The source denied allegations by the Eritrean embassy that security forces had raided the clubs and intimidated members, saying the decision to close them was implemented “in a lawful and civilised manner”.

No official source was available to confirm the press report.

However, Foreign Minister Mustafa Ismail was quoted by the Sudan Media Center on Monday as saying his ministry had not received any protest note from the Eritrean embassy over the crackdown.

Ismail, meanwhile, accused the Eritrean government of arresting a number of Sudanese opposition figures who he said were planning to return home.

And he renewed Khartoum’s accusations that Asmara was supporting rebels in Darfur, west Sudan, citing a statement he said was jointly issued by the Darfur rebels and the opposition Bija Congress, with Eritrean coordination, for “disturbing the stability in Sudan”.