Several Western countries 'alarmed' at arrests, detentions in Sudan
Khartoum, Sudan (PANA) - Several Western countries have expressed alarm by the 9 February arrests and detentions of several high-profile political figures by the junta in Khartoum.
In a joint statement, the Troika on Sudan (Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America), as well as Canada, Switzerland, and the European Union said "these troubling actions" are part of a recent pattern of arrests and detentions of civil society activists, journalists, and humanitarian workers occurring throughout Sudan these last weeks.
"We condemn this harassment and intimidation on the part of Sudan’s military authorities. This is wholly inconsistent with their stated commitment to participate constructively in a facilitated process to resolve Sudan’s political crisis to return to a democratic transition," they said.
The statement called for an immediate end to such practices and for the immediate release of all those unjustly detained.
"We remind Sudan’s military authorities of their obligations to respect human rights and guarantee the safety of those detained or arrested and the need to ensure that due process is consistently followed in all cases."
The statement said the lifting of the state of emergency, declared at the time of the 25 October military takeover would send a positive signal.
-0- PANA MA 11Feb2022
