The military junta that has governed Sudan since the 25 October coup in the face of mass, nationwide protests has detained the bureau chief of Al-Jazeera’s Khartoum office, El Musalmi El Kabbashi.
Security forces detained El Kabbashi yesterday night (14 November). No reason has been given for his detention.
Protests were organised across the country yesterday against the 25 October coup, which saw military forces take full control over the joint military-civilian Sovereign Council.
Initiated in August 2019 following the fall of the long-time dictator Omar al-Bashir in April that year, the Council was created as a transitional government body. However, military forces, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, purged the Council of its civilian leaders in the last days of October.
The military takeover immediately prompted protests across Sudan, which have continued since, despite live fire and other repressive measures being used against protestors. Six civilians are reported to have been killed by regime forces yesterday.
The news network Al-Jazeera was targeted by the Sudanese regime in 2019
In a statement, the Doha-based network has said that it “condemns in the strongest terms the reprehensible actions of the military and calls on the authorities to release El Kabbashi immediately and to allow its journalists to operate unhindered, free to practice their profession without fear or intimidation”.
“The network holds the Sudanese military authority responsible for the safety of all its employees,” the network’s statement continued.
There have been numerous suggestions over the last weeks military coup may not be fully supported by the major international powers. However, it appears that the Sudanese military’s strategy is supported by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and the UAE regime.
