EU welcomes release of Sudan political detainees
September 17, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – The European Union (EU) ambassadors in Khartoum have welcomed the release of the Sudanese Congress Party (SCoP) leader, Ibrahim al-Sheikh, and National Umma Party (NUP) deputy chairman, Meriam al-Mahdi, as part of the necessary confidence-building measures mentioned in the Addis Ababa framework agreement.
Last week, Sudan’s National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) released al-Mahdi, who has been arrested upon her return to the country on August 11th after taking part in talks between the NUP and the rebel alliance of the Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) in France.
Al-Sheikh was released on Monday after more than three months of detention for criticizing the government’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia.
On September 5th, the Paris Declaration signatories including the NUP and the rebel SRF signed a framework agreement with the national dialogue committee known as 7+7 on the national dialogue and constitutional process under the auspices of the African Union mediation.
The African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) had previously urged the Sudanese government to speed up efforts to implement the confidence-building measures agreed upon including release of all political prisoners and convicts and allowing public liberties.
The head of the EU Delegation to Sudan, Tomas Ulicny, told reporters following a meeting of the EU ambassadors in Khartoum that to create a truly conducive environment for the holding of the national dialogue, the release of al-Sheikh and al-Mahdi should be followed by the adoption and implementation of other steps to ensure the full respect of political freedoms.
He demanded enactment of the necessary legislation to give effect to these freedoms besides releasing all other political detainees, and the opening of space for legitimate activities of the civil society.
On Tuesday, NISS released 8 SCoP members from the prison of El Obeid, capital of North Kordofan state including university professor, Sideeg Nourain, journalist Hassan Ishag, SCoP’s Fakoki area chapter chairman, Ibrahim Ahmed Salim and five other student members.
(ST)