Sudan detains Eritrean opposition members

June 15, 2013 (ADDIS ABABA) – Ethiopian-based Eritrean opposition group, the Eritrean Islamic Reform Movement, on Saturday reiterated allegations that Sudanese authorities have arrested eight of its leading members.

The group’s leader in Addis Ababa, Mohamed Nur, told Sudan Tribune that the movement’s members and leaders were detained on 8 June from their homes in Kassala town.

Nur said they were detained after Sudanese security forces raided their homes early on Saturday at about 7:30am [local time].

“We have no Idea why they were arrested and we don’t know where they are being held”, he said.

Abdel-Gadir Mohamed, the group’s military wing chief, was among those arrested, the opposition official further said.

It is not yet clear why the members were detained, but Nur said the arrests came after an Eritrean general, well-known by his nickname, Tekle Manjus, paid a visit to Kassala and held talks with Sudanese military officials over security matters.

Sudan has in the past detained and handed over many opposition members to the Eritrean government in the capital Asmara where they will be at risk of harsh punishments, including the death penalty.

The Red Sea nation has been under the rule of president Isaias Afwerki since the country gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993. It remains a one-party state and does not have any legal opposition party.

Eritrea is characterised by a zero-tolerance of dissidence and most opposition parties, including over 13 political organisations based in Ethiopia, operate in exile.

The opposition group has urged the Sudanese government to immediately release the detained opposition members.

It called on Khartoum to comply with both Sudanese and international laws in respect to the rights of political refugees.

While expressing fears that the Sudanese government could handover the opposition members to Eritrea, Nur urged the international community to swiftly intervene over the issue.

This is the first time that Sudan has arrested members of the Eritrean Islamic Reform Movement

Eritrea had broken diplomatic relations with Sudan in December 1994 following a series of attacks by the Eritrean Islamic Jihad Movement (now Eritrean Islamic Salvation Movement) and accused Khartoum of being behind. But the two regimes reconciled in December 2005.

Formed in 1980, the group alleges to be the only credible opposition group which represents the interests of Muslim Eritreans. It holds joint activities with the Islamic Salvation Movement.

The group aims to topple regime of president Isaias Afwerki and replace it with a new government based on the principles of Islamic law.

(ST)