Sudan: Information on the treatment of Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) members
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 February 1996 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | SDN23146.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Sudan: Information on the treatment of Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) members, 1 February 1996, SDN23146.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6aad698.html [accessed 2 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
This Response to Information Request updates information on the treatment of Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) members in Sudan contained in Responses to Information Requests SDN20291.E of 4 April 1995, SDN12658 of 2 February 1993, and SDN2760 of 7 November 1989.
Regarding Sudan in 1995, Human Rights Watch World Report 1996 states that "Draconian emergency laws, instituted after the toppling of the previous democratically-elected government in 1989, ban political parties and independent unions and deny freedom of expression and assembly" (Dec. 1995, 51). After the 1989 coup, according to the secretary-general of the London-based Sudan Human Rights Organization (SHRO), harassment of active opposition figures, including DUP members, included detention without charge or trial and torture, and continues to this day (28 Feb. 1996).
In August 1995 the Sudanese government announced a general amnesty for political detainees (HRW Dec. 1995, 53). According to Human Rights Watch, 32 detainees and 18 political prisoners were released later that month (ibid., 53). However, the Human Rights Watch report also states that despite the amnesty, "the controls over political life were not lifted" (ibid.). According to the SHRO secretary-general, not all detained political opponents were released, and the constitutional machinery that allows the government to detain opponents without charge or trial still exists (28 Feb. 1996).
In September 1995 student protests at the University of Khartoum led to violence between demonstrators and police, with the death toll reaching as high as 40, according to Human Rights Watch, and detentions numbering over 100 (Dec. 1995, 53). The Human Rights Watch report states,
Security agents detained alleged "trouble makers" for longer periods, typically people with a history of detentions under this government.... Among those detained were leaders of the banned political parties, trade union and labor movement, lawyers, student activists, and professionals (ibid.).
According to the SHRO secretary-general, some of those detained were members of the DUP (28 Feb. 1996).
The SHRO secretary-general also explained that the DUP is a member of a larger opposition umbrella group called the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) (ibid.). The president of the DUP, Muhammad 'Uthman Al-Mirghani, is also the president of the NDA (ibid.). The Sudanese government has reportedly invited opposition groups to participate in upcoming national assembly and presidential elections (Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran 31 Dec. 1995). However, along with other opposition groups, the DUP is boycotting the elections, which they consider "puppet procedures" (SHRO 28 Feb. 1996; Al-Hayah 27 Dec. 1995; MENA 31 Dec. 1995).
For more information on DUP opposition activities, please refer to the attached articles.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
Al-Hayah [London, in Arabic]. 27 Decemeber 1995. "Al-Mahdi, Supporters to Boycott 1996 Elections." (FBIS-NES-95-249 28 Dec. 1995, p. 11)
Human Rights Watch (HRW). December 1995. Human Rights Watch World Report 1996. New York: Human Rights Watch.
MENA [Cairo, in Arabic]. 31 December 1995. "SPLM Rejects Call to Participate in Elections." (FBIS-NES-96-001 2 Jan. 1996, p. 27)
Secretary-General of Sudan Human Rights Organization (SHRO), London, UK. 28 February 1996. Telephone interview.
Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran [Tehran, in Arabic]. 31 December 1995. "Minister on Elections, Opposition, Eritrea, Hala'ib." (FBIS-NES-96-002 3 Jan. 1996, pp. 29-30)
Attachments
Al-Hayah [London, in Arabic]. 2 November 1994. "Ummah, DUP on Garang 'Opposition Strategy'." (FBIS-NES-94-213 3 Nov. 1994, p. 25)
Al-Sharq Al-Awsat [London, in Arabic]. 14 July 1994. "Opposition DUP, SLPM Issue Joint Statement." (FBIS-NES-94-136 15 July 1994, pp. 13-14)
Human Rights Watch (HRW). December 1995. Human Rights Watch World Report 1996. New York: Human Rights Watch, pp. 50-55.
Voice of the Broad Masses of Eritrea [Asmara, in Tigrinya]. 17 January 1996. "Sudanese Opposition Announces Plans to Intensify Activities." (FBIS-NES-96-013 19 Jan. 1996, p. 22)
