Sudan: Ahmed Haroun's Arrest Claimed, Not Confirmed

Reports have surfaced that Ahmed Haroun, a prominent leader of the Islamist movement and chairman of the dissolved National Congress Party (NCP), has been arrested. However, these claims have not been officially confirmed by Sudanese authorities, the prosecution, or the justice minister. Haroun is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes. His appearance in a recorded interview with Sudan Podcast on Friday sparked widespread speculation about his status.

The interview marked Haroun's first public recorded appearance since he left Kober Prison in Khartoum during the early days of the war. He has remained at liberty, moving freely and issuing statements on specific issues. Yasser Arman, a prominent figure in civil coalition alliances, commented on Haroun's podcast appearance, questioning the circumstances surrounding his interview. Arman suggested that Haroun's appearance was a "crude, transparent, and badly staged farce" intended to circumvent mounting regional and international pressure.

Khalid Omar Youssef, a leading figure in the Sudanese civil democratic coalition Sumud, also expressed skepticism about Haroun's alleged arrest. He stated that Haroun operates under the protection of security and military agencies, whose key positions are controlled by his associates. Youssef argued that the events surrounding Haroun's appearance were a deliberate attempt to mislead the public and downplay the severity of the situation.

The Emergency Lawyers group has expressed grave concern over Haroun's public appearance while an arrest warrant remains in force. They called on the Sudanese authorities to immediately disclose the legal status of Ahmed Haroun, Omar Al Bashir, and Abdel Rahim Mohamed Hussein, and to clarify the circumstances of their release from detention. The group also urged the authorities to take necessary measures to arrest them and hand them over to the International Criminal Court.

In his interview with Sudan Podcast, Haroun blamed the security committee led by former vice-president Awad Ibn Auf and former National Intelligence and Security Service director Salah Abdullah for the events that led to the fall of the former regime. He proposed adopting a hybrid political system and an electoral system based on proportional representation. Haroun also called for political forces to reach agreement on a new social contract.

Ahmed Haroun has been wanted by the ICC for war crimes and crimes against humanity, and also faces domestic criminal proceedings. He was held at Kober Prison in Khartoum alongside ousted president Omar Hassan Ahmed Al Bashir and former defence minister Abdel Rahim Mohamed Hussein. Since leaving prison, Haroun has remained at liberty, moving freely between cities and states in Sudan under the control of the Sudanese army.

The Sudanese authorities have yet to provide sufficient legal clarification about the circumstances of Haroun's release and the status of criminal proceedings against him. The Emergency Lawyers group and other activists continue to demand that the authorities take concrete steps to ensure that those wanted by the courts are brought to justice. The situation surrounding Haroun's alleged arrest remains unclear, with many questions still unanswered.

Key points

• The Sudanese authorities have not officially confirmed Ahmed Haroun's arrest.
• Haroun's appearance in a recorded interview sparked speculation about his status.
• The Emergency Lawyers group has called for the authorities to disclose Haroun's legal status and take measures to arrest him.