A Sudanese civilian coalition, Taqaddom, has filed a challenge against the efforts of Sudan’s public prosecutor to have Interpol join the arrest of some of its leaders, including former Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok.
The coalition described the charges against them as political and an abuse of the justice system by leftovers of Omar al-Bashir’s regime.
Sudan’s attorney general Al-Fateh Tayfour in a state television address added that Red Notices were requested for 16 people accused of supporting the RSF. RSF had been clashing with the Sudanese military over control since April.
He also issued orders for the extradition of 346 others accused of rebellion.
In turn, Taqaddom’s legal and human rights committee has directed an appeal to Interpol to disregard the requests for a Red Notice, believing the charges of genocide, incitement, and undermining the constitutional order are fabricated to muzzle those who call for peace.
These accusations levelled by the Public Prosecution in Port Sudan are without anything to do with the law,” said the coalition in a statement.
Adding: “They are but a wretched attempt to silence civilian voices working to bring peace to Sudan.
A Red Notice requests all Interpol member countries to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition.
But Interpol’s constitution forbids the organization from meddling with political matters.
Leaders of Taqaddom claim that the charges are actually intended to impede their peace efforts because the coalition had been striving for a cease-fire and negotiations ever since its emergence.
The group also claimed that remnants of al-Bashir’s regime remain well-entrenched in the judiciary and are making use of the legal system to get back at political opponents and discredit the opposition.
Taqaddom has called on Interpol to refer the matter to its Commission for the Control of Interpol’s Files for legal review.
Meanwhile, the Sudanese public prosecutor’s office hasn’t released any statements with regard to Taqaddom’s claims.
