Sudan: Update to SDN32210.E for period July 1999 to June 2001. Democratic Unionist Party (DUP): Recent activities in Sudan and degree of suppression of political opposition by government; whether or not there is any DUP activity in Khartoum

There were several reports that Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) members were detained in Sudan during the period July 1999 to June 2001. The Associated Press reported that Ahmed Al-Sayed, a former executive member of the DUP, was detained twice in September 1999 in connection with a pipeline blast (AP 28 Sept. 1999). Two sources noted the arrest of Sid Ahmed el Hussein (also Al-Hussein), the DUP's internal leader, in April 2000 (Country Reports 2000, Section 1.d.; ARB May 2000, 13985) in Khartoum (ibid.). Country Reports states that "leading members of the DUP" were arrested and detained in June 2000, while a "leading DUP member" was arrested in September 2000 in Khartoum (Section 1.d.). A press release from the Sudan Victims of Torture Group, excerpted by IRIN, stated that Adam Muhammad Ahmed, a member of the DUP's political bureau, was arrested in Khartoum in September 2000 (IRIN 27 Sept. 2000). The Cairo-based Sudanese newspaper Al-Khartoum, in a report excerpted by the BBC, said that Mahmoud Hasanayn (also Ali Mahmoud Hassanein), the DUP's chairman of the executive office, was arrested in Khartoum in December 2000 (BBC 15 Dec. 2000; see also Country Reports 2000, Section 1.d.). The Panafrican News Agency (PANA) indicated that Ali el Sayed, along with several other opposition leaders, was arrested in December 2000 (PANA 13 Jan. 2001; see also Sudan Democratic Gazette Jan. 2001, 3). After being released on bail, briefly, PANA reports that el Sayed was returned to jail (12 May 2001).

National elections took place in Sudan in December 2000. IRIN noted that the external wing of the DUP, led by Chairman Muhammad Uthman al-Mirghani, would boycott the elections (13 Dec. 2000). The internal wing of the DUP, led by Chairman Al-Sharif Zayn al Abidin al-Hindi, was listed as a registered political group (ibid.). The article also states that al-Hindi returned from exile in 1997 (ibid.). SUNA, the Sudanese News Agency, stated that Dr. Ahmad Bilal, "a prominent member of the DUP", "affirmed the participation of his party in the coming national programme government" (SUNA 23 Jan 2001). Africa Research Bulletin reported on the new government:

According to the reshuffle announced on February 23rd, the splinter group of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) known as the DUP General Secretariat obtained three portfolios ... . The DUP ministers are Ahmed Ballal (health), Jalal Degair (industry) and Siddik el Hindi (international cooperation).

Led by former Vice Premier and Foreign Minister Sharif el Hindi, the DUP general secretariat is at loggerheads with the mainstream DUP led by Muhammad Uthman al-Mirghani.

Hindi blames Mirghani of aligning himself with the Sudanese Communist Party and the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA), who Hindi considers rash and accuses of serving foreign interests by waging the war against the government (ARB February 2001, 14296).

The Political Handbook of the World 1999 explains:

DUP Chairman Mirghani described the guidelines adopted in late 1998 for legalization of parties as too restrictive, and his supporters had not submitted a request for registration as of March 1999, although a splinter group had reportedly sought recognition under the DUP rubric (924).

Specific information on DUP activities in Khartoum could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate 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. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Africa Research Bulletin (ARB): Social, Cultural and Political Series [Oxford]. February 2001. "Sudan: New Government."

_____. May 2000. "Sudan: Turabi Still Powerful."

Al-Khartoum [Cairo]. 12 December 2000. "Opposition Alliance Condemns Arrest of its Senior Member." (BBC Summary 25 January 2001/NEXIS).

Associated Press (AP). 28 September 1999. Mohamed Osman. "El-Bashir Lashes Out at Opposition, Vows to Crush Press." NEXIS.

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2000. February 2001. United States Department of State. Washington, DC. [Accessed 22 June 2001]

Panafrican News Agency (PANA). 12 May 2001. "Opposition Leaders Returned to Custody." [Accessed 3 July 2001]

_____. 13 January 2001. "Opposition Politicians to Face Trial." NEXIS.

Political Handbook of the World: 1999. 1999. Edited by Arthur S. Banks and Thomas C. Muller. Binghamton, NY: CSA Publications.

Sudan Democratic Gazette [London]. January 2001. "In a Move Against the USA; NIF Regime Accuses Seven NDA Leaders of Treason."

SUNA [Khartoum, in English]. 23 January 2001. "Opposition Party Leader Voices Support for Government." (BBC Summary 25 January/NEXIS).

United Nations Integrated Regional Information Network (IRIN). 27 September 2000. "Sudan: Opposition Delegate 'Disappears'." [Accessed 3 July 2001]

Additional Sources Consulted

Two oral sources contacted did not respond within the time limits of the research request.

Africa Confidential

Indian Ocean Newsletter

IRB Databases

Internet Sites including:

Amnesty International

Human Rights Watch

Search engines:

Google

Lycos