Two Sudanese journalists from a privately owned newspaper were briefly arrested by security agents for publishing a report about meetings of South Sudan’s armed opposition group led by ousted vice president Riek Machar in Khartoum these days.
Multiple sources told Radio Tamazuj that Tariq Abdallah and Murtada Ahmed were arrested and picked up by the security officers from the office of Al-Ahram Al-Youm newspaper and taken to security headquarters in Khartoum North.
Reportedly, the two journalists were investigated before being released on the same day during late-night hours.
For its part, Sudan Journalist’s Network condemned the move, saying the arrest of the two journalists is part of a government policy to crackdown on freedom of the press.
But the Sudanese government denied any meeting held by the SPLM-IO faction in Khartoum, saying South Sudan insurgencies are not allowed to conduct political activities in its territory.
The SPLM-IO confirms Khartoum meeting
Separately, a senior SPLM-IO official who preferred anonymity told Radio Tamazuj that meetings of the SPLM-IO Political Bureau kicked off in Khartoum city on Monday, saying the Sudanese government placed restrictions on media coverage.
Several opposition figures told Radio Tamazuj in a previous interview that senior members of the armed opposition faction will meet in Khartoum to discuss the ongoing political developments in South Sudan.
File photo: Riek Machar