Sudan’s Interior Minister Lt. Gen. Izz-Eddin Al-Sheikh vowed to fight insubordination within the police after a group of officers protested against low wages and deteriorating living conditions.
During a general meeting arranged on Monday by Al-Sheikh and the director-general of the police forces in the capital’s Tahrir Square, some police officers were given an ultimatum of either resigning or continuing to serve.
“Any police officer who does not want to work must submit his resignation,” Al-Sheikh told them firmly.
“The country will not break down for any individual, especially since the police force has a glorious and extensive history,” the minister explained, adding that the force’s “march forward will not be set back for a single person.”
“Both the government and the Interior Ministry attach great importance to the police force and will announce pay raises for all personnel,” revealed Al-Sheikh.
He moved on to welcome unhappy officers regardless of their choices of either staying or leaving and called on the force to practice the highest levels of discipline, duty, and respect for the leadership and state.
At the meeting, attended by Khartoum Governor Ayman Nimr and a host of senior police officials, Al-Sheikh reaffirmed a commitment to provide officers with the means to live decently and that a salary increase was on the horizon.
However, the wage hike needs to take into consideration the economic conditions and challenges facing the country.
“Police forces are disciplined and will continue their duties despite the difficulties facing the country,” reaffirmed Al-Sheikh.
On Monday, Nimr held an emergency meeting in which he ordered paying a bonus to all officers on the occasion of the Eid al-Adha holiday, which will be observed in mid-July.
Police Forces Director General Lt.-Gen. Khaled Mahdi Ibrahim reiterated a keenness for preserving the rights of officers, such as “providing them with legal protection, so they can perform their duties in maintaining security and protecting the homeland.”
