Sudanese authorities announced that they have arrested dozens of members of the former ruling party, accusing them of conspiring to carry out sabotage operations, coinciding with protests supporting democracy in the capital. Officials stated that at least 200 members of the National Congress Party were detained in the early hours of Wednesday, marking the 32nd anniversary of the coup that brought former party leader, Omar al-Bashir, to power. Bashir himself was ousted in 2019, replaced by a transitional government comprising military and civilian leaders who promised elections, but repeatedly accused supporters of the National Congress Party of attempting to undermine its efforts and destabilize the country.
Salah Manan, a member of the Empowerment Removal Committee—the official body responsible for dismantling the remnants of Bashir's political and economic networks—stated that these were groups from the National Congress Party preparing to execute sabotage operations. Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok had warned earlier this month of potential chaos and civil war stoked by the previous regime.
Highlighting the dual pressures facing the transitional government, pro-democracy marches took place in Khartoum and in Omdurman across the Nile, commemorating another annual remembrance. About two years ago, mass protests that erupted nationwide led the military leaders who ousted Bashir to begin negotiations with civilians, resulting in the current power-sharing arrangement.
Police deployed tear gas against protesters chanting anti-Bashir and pro-democracy slogans, as well as approximately 150 supporters of the National Congress Party who were demonstrating against the transitional government in central Khartoum. The new transitional government has sought to maintain national unity and rebuild relations with the West since Bashir's departure. The International Monetary Fund announced on Tuesday that Sudan is now eligible to start seeking debt relief on its approximately $56 billion debt. However, many of the economic problems that fueled public outrage against Bashir's rule persist.
The Empowerment Removal Committee reported that authorities have detected significant financial movements linked to the alleged conspiracy and recently arrested dozens of illegal currency traders on suspicion of working to undermine the economy. There was no immediate comment from any of the detainees or their lawyers. The authorities banned the National Congress Party in 2019.
