EU ‘greatly concerned’ as Sudan tightens restrictions

KHARTOUM — The EU expressed “great concern” Wednesday over tighter restrictions in Sudan since ex-premier Sadiq Al Mahdi was detained in mid-May after reportedly accusing a counterinsurgency unit of abuses against civilians in Darfur.

President Omar Al Bashir appealed in January for a national political dialogue, and hinted at greater freedoms.

A tenuous political opening followed, with parties holding rallies and newspaper reports multiplying on alleged official corruption.

But Mahdi was arrested on May 17 for alleged treason after he reportedly accused the Rapid Support Forces of rape and other abuses of civilians in Sudan’s western Darfur region.

Khartoum has since banned newspapers from reporting on the case.

In a joint statement, a European Union delegation called on all sides to back the dialogue and to “abstain from acts and statements that might derail the process”.