Sudan is witnessing a worrying resurgence of authoritarian tactics reminiscent of the deposed Omar al-Bashir regime, as the current military leadership tightens its grip through arrests, surveillance, and suppression of political dissent.
Analysts say the reactivation of the former National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) dissolved after al-Bashir’s ouster in 2019 marked a turning point. The decision by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan to bring back the notorious agency despite widespread opposition has opened the door to the return of security repression under a new guise.
Return of the Old Security State
Since its reinstatement, observers have documented a pattern of intimidation, arbitrary arrests, and harassment of youth activists and political figures linked to the December Revolution. While Sudan remains mired in civil war between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), security agencies have used the chaos to justify crackdowns, accusing activists of ties to the RSF despite scant evidence.
This resurgence coincides with a coordinated online campaign led by figures from the former Islamist regime seeking to discredit the revolution and its advocates for peace. The campaign appears designed to pave the way for renewed state repression under the pretext of preserving national security.
Revolution Anniversary Met with Force
On Friday, Sudanese cities marked the seventh anniversary of the December Revolution with peaceful marches calling for a ceasefire, the dissolution of militias, and the army’s return to barracks echoing the same demands that once brought down al-Bashir’s regime.
Yet, the commemorations were met with force. The Emergency Lawyers Association reported that security forces detained several activists in the states of Gedaref and Northern Sudan, urging authorities to release them immediately and ensure their safety. In Omdurman, police fired tear gas to disperse demonstrators carrying the Sudanese flag and chanting for freedom, peace, and justice.
Local resistance committees said dozens of activists were later kidnapped from their homes in late-night raids, with their whereabouts remaining unknown. The same committees condemned the detentions as politically motivated acts meant to silence anti-war voices.
Among those detained was journalist and political activist Omar Abu Aqla, abducted Thursday night in Gedaref. His arrest sparked outrage among press freedom advocates, who warn that Sudan’s military-run authorities are sliding back into the secrecy and repression of the pre-revolution era.
Government Rhetoric Fuels Backlash
Further controversy erupted after Minister of Culture, Information and Tourism Khalid al-Iyeser criticized pro-democracy slogans raised by demonstrators as “unrealistic and unlawful,” claiming they could “threaten national stability.”
In a statement posted online, the minister urged continued support for the army and allied forces, arguing that criticism of the security apparatus only serves “the enemies of the nation.” His remarks drew condemnation from political and civil society figures, who described them as a revival of al-Bashir-era rhetoric aimed at delegitimizing civilian demands.
Activists accused al-Iyeser of using “pre-revolution language” that equates calls for freedom with sedition. Many viewed his comments as evidence that elements within the current government are working to re-establish the ideological and political framework of the former Islamist regime.
Mounting Fears Over Democratic Reversal
The escalating arrests, alongside the increasingly militant rhetoric from government officials, have intensified fears that Sudan is veering back toward an entrenched police state. Rights groups warn that the regime’s use of war as cover for repression undermines prospects for both peace and democratic transition.
Despite this climate of fear, the enduring spirit of the December Revolution continues to animate Sudan’s civil resistance. The turnout for the anniversary marches demonstrated that, even amid war and repression, calls for “Freedom, Peace, and Justice” the revolution’s founding slogan remain deeply rooted in Sudan’s collective conscience.
