Sudan army detains ex-ruling party leader Ahmed Haroun

The Sudanese army has detained Ahmed Haroun, the former chairman of the National Congress Party (NCP), a senior party official confirmed to Radio Tamazuj on Sunday. Haroun, an Islamist official wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) over alleged crimes in Darfur, was taken into custody by Military Intelligence officers in Khartoum. This development comes two days after Haroun made his first public appearance since the outbreak of Sudan's war in April 2023, during a four-hour televised podcast interview.

In the interview, Haroun discussed relations between Islamists and the military leadership, the formation of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), and prospects for peace in Sudan. He rejected suggestions that Islamists were responsible for starting the war, saying they joined the fighting after the military leadership called for popular mobilisation to help defeat the RSF. Haroun stated that the NCP and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) might not be politically aligned but were united in the fight against the paramilitary group.

Haroun also dismissed suggestions of formal political or organisational ties between Islamists and the military leadership, describing their relationship as one based on shared interests on the battlefield. He said the ongoing war could ultimately be ended only through peace negotiations, arguing that military operations were also intended to strengthen the parties' positions at the negotiating table. Additionally, Haroun accused opposition groups of conducting a sustained campaign against Islamists and the NCP since 2018.

Sudanese opposition politician Khalid Omar Yousif described the reported arrest as an attempt to deflect criticism following Haroun's public appearance. Yousif alleged that Haroun had remained in Sudan under the knowledge, protection, and supervision of army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan since escaping from prison following the outbreak of war in April 2023. Yousif accused Haroun of actively participating in the conflict alongside members of the former ruling Islamist movement.

Yousif further claimed that Haroun's associates and members of his political group occupied influential positions within al-Burhan's government and its political and security institutions. He said reports of Haroun's arrest emerged after the interview triggered widespread domestic and international criticism, which had caught those seeking to bring Islamist figures back into the political arena off guard.

The NCP is rooted in Sudan's Islamist movement, which wielded considerable influence during the rule of former President Omar al-Bashir. Haroun was among dozens of Sudanese officials arrested in 2019 after a popular uprising and subsequent military coup ended al-Bashir's nearly three-decade rule. He later escaped from Kobar Prison in Khartoum amid the turmoil following the outbreak of war in April 2023 and subsequently expressed support for the SAF.

Haroun is wanted by the ICC over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Darfur in the early 2000s. The charges include murder, rape, torture, attacks on civilians, and the destruction of property. In January 2024, the United States offered a $5 million reward for information leading to Haroun's capture.

Key points

• Ahmed Haroun's detention comes amid ongoing conflict in Sudan and widespread criticism of his public appearance.
• Haroun is wanted by the ICC for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur.
• The Sudanese army's detention of Haroun may be an attempt to deflect criticism and ease pressure on the military leadership.