Sudanese opposition figure released after brief detention
April 11, 2012 (KHARTOUM) – Sudanese security released on Wednesday the leader of the disbanded Umma Reform and Renewal Party (URRP), Mubarak Al-Fadil, after being interrogated for four hours.
His arrest happened in the wake of the takeover of Sudan’s oil-producing town of Heglig by the army of South Sudan after clashes with the Sudanese army (SAF).
At NISS offices, Al-Fadil was held for four hours before being released and asked to report back today to the NISS, Sudan Tribune has learned.
The opposition figure told reporters following his release that the detention was merely an attempt to intimidate other anti-government politicians. He added that the NISS had interrogated him about a raft of issues including the situation inside the opposition National Umma Party which he rejoined last year.
He said he was also asked about the situation in South Kordofan and the statements in which he warned that the NUP’s rank-and-file are going to resort to armed struggle if the party’s leader, Al-Sadiq al-Mahdi, does not reverse his position against popular uprising.
Al-Fadil, who is one of the government’s vociferous critics, said that the NISS had accused him of supporting an armed uprising, a charge to which he responded by saying he would not be staying in Khartoum if that was his plan.
He said that the NISS also asked about his relations with the rebel coalition Sudanese Revolutionary Forces (SRF), which Sudan accuses South Sudan of backing.
Sudanese opposition and activists are concerned that the outbreak of conflict between Sudan and South Sudan will serve to justify the Khartoum government in increasing its crackdown on anti-government activities.
(ST)