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Sudan Bans Main Opposition Party; Arrests Members
September 12, 2011
By: Carlos Aramayo | Printer Friendly

On September 6, CNN reported that the Sudanese government had banned the northern branch of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), the country’s main opposition party. The article also noted that the government had shut down all of the party's northern branch offices. The decision to ban the SPLM in Sudan comes in the aftermath of fighting between the Sudanese army and SPLM ex-rebels in the Blue Nile state that erupted late last Thursday. Blue Nile is a border state with the newly independent South Sudan.

According the SPLM Secretary General Yasir Arman, the government of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir not only closed his party’s northern offices, but also arrested several party members across Sudan. "The (ruling) National Congress Party has banned the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) in all states and arrested a large number of its members and seized property and documents belonging to it in different states and localities," Arman said in a statement . CNN additionally reported that Arman added, "What is happening now, in different towns and villages in Sudan against members and leaders of the SPLM, is something that was organized and planned over a long period, with the aim of ... eliminating the SPLM as a major national and democratic force in north Sudan."

According to the Voice of America, Sudan's deputy Minister of Information, Sanaa Hamad, confirmed that the government had declared the SPLM illegal in the northern region of the country, stating it was not a legally registered political party following the southern secession. However, Hamad added: “this situation will not have an impact on the members of the party as individuals... the only people who have been arrested were involved in illegal activities."

The government move against the SPLM comes shortly after deadly fighting erupted between the Sudanese army and ex-rebel troops loyal to the elected governor, Malik Agar, who is also the north SPLM’s chairman. Bashir sacked Agar from his job on September 2, and appointed a caretaker military leader, General Yahia Mohammed Kheir, after declaring a state of emergency. The United Nations said 16,000 people – the entire estimated population – were reported to have fled from the flashpoint border town of Kurmuk across the border into Ethiopia.

For previous news on Sudan, please see:
South Sudan Declares Independence

Sources:
CNN – Sudan bans opposition party, seizes offices

Voice of America – Sudan Government Bans SPLM Party and Arrests Supporters