19 February 2019) ACJPS has received information on the arbitrary arrest and detention of 116 political activists between December 2018 and February 2019 for their participation or suspected involvement in the ongoing anti-government protests. At least three detainees, including 1 female have been subjected to six-month detention under the emergency law in North Kordofan and North Darfur states. Authorities have targeted opposition party leaders and members who are actively involved in the ongoing protest. Many were arrested during protests and raids in private residences and party houses.
Of the 116 political activists detained, 31 are members of the Sudanese communist party, 49 are Baath Arabic party members and 36 are members of the Sudanese Congress party. The detainees are being held incommunicado by the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) at their offices in Khartoum Bahri and NISS sections attached to the various prisons across Sudan including; Omdurman women’s prison, Port Sudan prison in Red Sea state, Shala prison of North Darfur and El-Fashir prison. No charges have been brought against them. ACJPS has received reliable information that detainees have not had access to lawyer or family visits since their arrests. Incommunicado detention together with the well-documented use by the NISS of torture and other forms of ill-treatment against detainees, gives rise to serious concerns for their safety.