Coup releases only four political detainees despite being the main promise on the Sunday deal

Alyurae-Khartoum-Sudanese authorities released a number of political detainees held since last month’s military takeover, a military source told Anadolu Agency.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said former political adviser Yasser Arman was among those freed.

“The list also includes the head of the Arab Socialist Ba’ath Party, Ali Al-Rih Al-Sanhoury, head of the Sudanese Congress Party, Omar Al-Diqir, and leading member of the National Umma Party, Al-Siddiq Al-Sadiq Al-Mahdi,” the source said.

A member of Al-Sanhouri’s family confirmed to Anadolu Agency the release of the party leader.

A source in the Sudanese Congress Party also confirmed that Al-Digir was released by Sudanese authorities.

On Oct. 25, the head of Sudan’s ruling military council, Gen. Abdul Fattah al-Burhan, declared a state of emergency and dissolved the transitional government amid rival protests and accusations between the military and politicians.

On Sunday, ousted Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok was reinstated after signing a political agreement with al-Burhan to put an end to a weeks-long crisis that threatened to undermine Sudan’s political transition.

An official source told Alyurae that the ministers and those arrested on criminal charges will not be released and will be brought to trial , but refused to disclose the nature of these criminal cases and who the ministers are charged with criminal charges.
But there is a widespread belief in the Sudanese street that criminal charges “most probably” would be brought against the members of the committee to remove the Bashir regime, fight corruption and restore public money.

As long before the coup, its members accused General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his deputy Hamidati of what they did not call planning a coup, as evidenced in his speeches that they had provoked sedition in unclear and untrue accusations, thsese members of the De-Empowerment Committee enjoyed wide popularity among the streets, especially in solidarity with them in the demonstration of Last October 21.

The release of all political detainees was one of the clauses of the 14-point agreement reached by the two leaders.

Before the military takeover, Sudan was administered by a sovereign council of military and civilian officials which was overseeing the transition period until elections are held in 2023 as part of a power-sharing pact between the military and the Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC) coalition.

While the deal was largely welcomed by the international community, Sudanese political forces have rejected it as an “attempt to legitimize the coup”.

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