Sudan Releases Dozens Detained after Rising Food Price Protests

Supporters shout outside the National Prison during the release of politicians and journalists, after demonstrations in Khartoum, Sudan February 18, 2018. Reuters/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah
Supporters shout outside the National Prison during the release of politicians and journalists, after demonstrations in Khartoum, Sudan February 18, 2018. Reuters/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah
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Sudan Releases Dozens Detained after Rising Food Price Protests

Supporters shout outside the National Prison during the release of politicians and journalists, after demonstrations in Khartoum, Sudan February 18, 2018. Reuters/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah
Supporters shout outside the National Prison during the release of politicians and journalists, after demonstrations in Khartoum, Sudan February 18, 2018. Reuters/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah

Sudanese authorities released on Sunday more than 80 political prisoners from jails in the capital Khartoum, a week after the African country appointed a new security chief.

All of them were arrested last month after protests against high prices and tough economic conditions that turned violent.

Among the released are politicians, activists, journalists and women, who went out from Kobar prison shouting "Freedom! Justice! Revolution!"

"According to President Omar al-Bashir's order, all detainees are being released," Abdelrehman al-Sadiq, a senior aide to Bashir, said.

Earlier that day, authorities invited the media, reporters of international agencies and newspapers to attend the release of the political prisoners, which is considered unprecedented.

The presidential decree aims to address the reasons for the arrests as the goal is to achieve national reconciliation and address national problems through dialogue, Sadiq explained.

Those freed on Sunday included Fadlalla Burma Nasir, son of former premier Sadiq al-Mahdi, Sarah Nugdallah, senior leaders of Sudan's main opposition Umma Party, and women's rights activist Amal Habbani.

Burma told journalists before his release that they were arrested despite peaceful protests, demanding the authorities to provide political freedoms, freedom of assembly and demonstration mandated by the constitution.

While son of former premier Sadiq al-Mahdi denounced the conditions of detention, and the torture of some of the detainees, he denied being personally subjected to physical torture, affirming that he was verbally abused.

Huge protests rocked Khartoum last month over the government's austerity measures, which devalued the currency and removed wheat subsidies, causing the price of bread to spike.



Lebanon Bans Dealing with Hezbollah Financial Entity

A view shows Lebanon's Central Bank building in Beirut, Lebanon April 4, 2025. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir/File Photo
A view shows Lebanon's Central Bank building in Beirut, Lebanon April 4, 2025. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir/File Photo
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Lebanon Bans Dealing with Hezbollah Financial Entity

A view shows Lebanon's Central Bank building in Beirut, Lebanon April 4, 2025. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir/File Photo
A view shows Lebanon's Central Bank building in Beirut, Lebanon April 4, 2025. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir/File Photo

Lebanon's central bank has banned banks and brokerages from dealing with a Hezbollah-affiliated financial institution, according to a circular, a sign of the group's diminished sway over state affairs since its devastating war with Israel.

Keeping up military pressure on the Iran-backed group, Israel on Tuesday launched some of its heaviest airstrikes since a ceasefire in November, saying it hit training camps and weapons depots in east Lebanon. A security source in Lebanon said 12 people were killed, five of them Hezbollah fighters, Reuters reported.

Hezbollah has faced mounting pressures since the war, including financial ones.

In the circular, dated July 14 and reviewed by Reuters, Banque du Liban prohibited all licensed financial institutions in Lebanon from dealing directly or indirectly with unlicensed entities and listed Hezbollah's Al-Qard Al-Hassan as an example.

The US Department of Treasury imposed sanctions on Al-Qard Al-Hassan in 2007, saying Hezbollah used it as a cover to manage "financial activities and gain access to the international financial system".

Bolstered by its powerful arsenal, Hezbollah had long exercised decisive influence over Lebanese state affairs, but it was unable to impose its will in the formation of a post-war government in February.

Al-Qard Al-Hassan, founded in 1983, describes itself as a charitable organisation which provides loans to people according to Islamic principles that forbid interest. Israel struck some of its branches during its war with Hezbollah last year.

Operating as a not-for-profit organisation under a licence granted by the Lebanese government, it has more than 30 branches, mostly in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley.

SHADOW ECONOMY

A Lebanese official said the central bank move had been in the works for months, and reflected US pressure on Lebanon to take action against Hezbollah's financial wing.

Nassib Ghobril, chief economist at Byblos Bank, said Lebanese banks were already careful to avoid dealing with Al-Qard Al-Hassan because it is under US sanctions.

"The important point is that finally the authorities are addressing the shadow economy in Lebanon, which is the real problem," he said, adding that authorities had long failed to address its "toxic effects".

In June, the European Commission included Lebanon in an updated list of high-risk jurisdictions presenting strategic deficiencies in their national anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism.

Last year, global financial crime watchdog FATF placed Lebanon on its "grey list" of countries under special scrutiny.