Sudan: No Guarantees in Case of Dispersion of Sit-in

Professor of Physics Siddiq Tawer Kafi. Asharq Al-Awsat Arabic
Professor of Physics Siddiq Tawer Kafi. Asharq Al-Awsat Arabic
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Sudan: No Guarantees in Case of Dispersion of Sit-in

Professor of Physics Siddiq Tawer Kafi. Asharq Al-Awsat Arabic
Professor of Physics Siddiq Tawer Kafi. Asharq Al-Awsat Arabic

Professor of Physics Siddiq Tawer Kafi has stated that forming an independent investigation committee regarding the dispersion of the sit-in would introduce obstacles before the partnership between civilians and militants, especially with charges facing the militants.

Kafi denied the intention to offer any assurances to suspects since this would hinder a just investigation.

The nomination of Kafi as a member of the sovereign council has sparked a debate in addition to a regional and cultural campaign, because of his affiliation with Arab Socialist Baath Party.

Tawer accused the state and officials at Sudan People's Liberation Movement of leading the campaign against him.

Yet he emphasized that he was chosen based on standards of national and professional qualifications, despite belonging to the Arab Socialist Baath Party.

In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper, he said that his presence in the council doesn't mean that he represents the South Kordofan and that finding a solution for war there might come from any person.

He added that his personal association with the region makes him aware of accurate details and the daily agony of war as well as its consequences on the community. This, therefore, facilitates resolving the crisis and settling peace.

Tawer said that he made direct contacts with leaders of Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North and they affirmed that the movement didn't take any stance against his candidacy.

He stressed that there must have been a misunderstanding, especially that the movement has its own official platforms where it can reveal its official standpoints if it wishes to.

Tawer informed Asharq Al-Awsat that the civilians at the council would be distributed over the committees that ruled the country before dissolving the military council, until an executive body is established.



Houthi Charges of Espionage: A Tool to Intimidate, Control the Population

Houthis demonstrate in the center of the capital Sanaa against American and British strikes on their positions. (AP)
Houthis demonstrate in the center of the capital Sanaa against American and British strikes on their positions. (AP)
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Houthi Charges of Espionage: A Tool to Intimidate, Control the Population

Houthis demonstrate in the center of the capital Sanaa against American and British strikes on their positions. (AP)
Houthis demonstrate in the center of the capital Sanaa against American and British strikes on their positions. (AP)

The Houthi militia has recently released several individuals it had abducted for celebrating Yemen’s September Revolution. However, over the past few days, it has detained hundreds of residents in its stronghold of Saada, accusing them of espionage.

The campaign coincides with the airing of alleged confessions from a purported spy cell and the abduction of a former employee of the US Embassy in Yemen.

Local sources in Saada province, approximately 242 kilometers north of Sanaa, report that the Houthis have launched a widespread campaign of arrests targeting civilians. These individuals have been taken from their homes, workplaces, and businesses under allegations of collaborating with Western nations and Israel. Families of those detained have been warned to remain silent and refrain from discussing the arrests with the media or on social media platforms.

According to the sources, more than 300 individuals, including dozens of women, have been abducted across various districts in Saada. The arrests have also targeted relatives and associates of Othman Mujalli, a member of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, who hails from the region.

The sources suggest that the Houthis are detaining women as hostages to pressure their relatives, who may either be out of the militia’s reach or living outside Houthi-controlled areas. They also appear to be using the women to coerce confessions from male relatives. Last month, the Houthis accused Hamid Mujalli, Othman Mujalli’s brother, of engaging in espionage for Arab and Western nations for nearly two decades.

In a separate incident, the Houthis abducted a former employee of the US Embassy in Sanaa from his home on Monday without providing any explanation for their actions.

Release of Detainees

The Houthis recently released Sheikh Amin Rajeh, a tribal leader from Ibb province, after detaining him for four months. Several other individuals were also freed, none of whom had been formally charged during their detention. Rajeh, a member of the General People’s Congress Party, was one of many political activists, students, workers, and public employees abducted in September for celebrating Yemen’s September 26, 1962, revolution.

One of the released individuals, a shop owner, told Asharq Al-Awsat that he was unaware of the reason for his detention. He had been abducted in November, two months after the Houthis initiated a crackdown on those commemorating the revolution.

Alleged Spy Cell

Houthi-controlled media recently broadcast confessions from what they claimed was a newly uncovered spy cell. The group linked the cell to its broader narrative of “promised conquest and sacred jihad” against the West and Israel.

According to Houthi security officials, the alleged spy cell was working to compile a “target database,” monitor sites linked to missile forces and drones, and track specific military and security locations. They also claimed the cell had been observing the residences and movements of Houthi leaders.

In response, the Houthis issued warnings to residents, forbidding them from discussing or sharing information about militia-controlled sites, facilities, or the whereabouts of their leaders.

The Houthis’ actions reflect mounting concerns over potential strikes targeting their senior leadership, similar to the recent attacks on Hezbollah figures in Lebanon. Those fears come amid ongoing tensions with Israel, the United States, and the United Kingdom, following the Houthis’ assaults on international shipping lanes in the Red Sea and missile attacks on Israel.