22 February 2019

The security forces of the dictatorial regime in Sudan arrested 25 opposition leaders and activists yesterday, 21^st February 2019, as they prepared to join a protest march to the presidential palace in Khartoum calling for the dictator Omar al-Bashir to step down. Among the detainees is Comrade Mohamed Mokhtar al-Khatib, the Secretary of the Sudanese Communist Party.

The peaceful protesters were viciously attacked by the security forces and used tear gas to disperse them. The opposition leaders and figures were arrested near Farooq Mosque, and included representatives of several political parties and the Professionals’ Association. While six of them were later released, mainly from the Umma Party, the rest of them including Comrade al-Khatib, are still in detention.

Hundreds of protesters and activists are still languishing in the prisons and detention centres of the regime under harsh and inhumane conditions. They include 15 members of the Central Committee of the Sudanese Communist Party and dozens of its cadres and members. 

The mass protest movement against the dictatorial regime, which started three months ago, on 19^th December 2018, has escalated in recent weeks and spread to all major cities and towns.

We call upon fraternal parties to raise their voices in strong condemnation of the bloody repression by al-Bashir’s regime and its security forces and to support the just demands of the Sudanese people and their peaceful protest movement.

Call for the immediate release of Comrade Mohamed Mokhtar al-Khatib and the detained opposition leaders and figures.

Freedom for all the political detainees in Sudan

Victory to the Sudanese people’s struggle

Long live International Solidarity!

Sudanese Communist Party