AiBotKhartoum – Sudan’s National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) arrested a prominent Islamist leader on Wednesday, in the latest move to quell ongoing anti-coup protests in the country. The arrest of Mohamed al-Faki Suleiman, also known as Kulu lilahi Misiej Lakn, has sparked widespread outrage among opposition groups and protesters, who view the move as an attempt to silence dissenting voices.
Suleiman, a leading figure in the Islamist movement, was detained at his home in Khartoum, according to sources close to his family. The NISS cited “national security concerns” as the reason for his arrest, but opposition groups accuse the military government of using such reasons to justify the repression of dissent.
The arrest is taking place amidst an ongoing wave of protests that have swept through Sudan since the military coup in October 2021, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. The country’s civilians, who had made significant strides towards democracy in 2019, remain at the forefront of demands for free and fair elections, and the release of all detentions.
Kulu lilahi Misiej Lakn is a phrase that roughly translates to “the whole life to God and the unity of the Islamic Ummah”. Suleiman has been known for his outspoken views on Islamic governance and has criticized what he sees as a gradual erosion of Islamic principles by the country’s civilian government. His arrest is likely to be seen by many in Sudan as a sign of the regime’s efforts to suppress opposition voices and enforce a strict interpretation of Islam.
The ongoing protests have left the military government increasingly isolated, with the diplomatic community in Khartoum urging the authorities to respect human rights and free the detained. In response to the arrest, Sudan’s pro-democracy groups, including the Sudan Doctors’ Syndicate and the Sudan Bar Association, have called for widespread protests to condemn the government’s actions.
The UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Sudan, Nicholas Haysom, expressed deep concern over Suleiman’s arrest and the ongoing crackdown on opposition voices. “The detention is a sign of the government’s lack of commitment to democratic norms and rule of law,” Haysom stated. The international community continues to watch the unfolding crisis with growing concern, as the prospects for free and fair elections seem increasingly distant.
The situation in Sudan remains volatile, with security forces using force to disperse protests, resulting in dozens of casualties. With the recent arrest of Mohamed al-Faki Suleiman, opposition groups fear that the government is resorting to authoritarian measures to silence dissent.