KHARTOUM, 17 June 2003 — The Sudanese government has set up a special branch to prosecute terrorism suspects, particularly religious extremists and “armed bandits,” officials said yesterday.
Foreign Minister Mustafa Ismail told the official daily Al-Anbaa that the new branch within the Justice Ministry was set up in line with anti-terrorism accords signed by the government.
He did not name the accords but Sudan has promised Washington to help fight international terrorism.
Justice Minister Ali Mohamed Osman Yassin told the independent Al-Rai Al-Aam daily that an unspecified number of lawsuits were already awaiting prosecution by the Justice Ministry’s new department. “Religious extremism and armed banditry will be on the top of the concerns of the department,” the minister was quoted as saying.
Ismail spoke of “terrorist activities” on the country’s eastern and western borders, referring to southern rebels in Hameshkorib and western rebels in Darfur region.
The government has called the rebels in Darfur armed bandits and outlaws, rejecting claims of a political motivation to the violence.
On May 1, Ismail complained that a US decision to keep Sudan on its list of states allegedly sponsoring terrorism was unfair and unjustified, given that relations between the two countries were improving.
The complaint came a day after the US State Department renamed Sudan and six other countries to its blacklist, inclusion on which brings with it a variety US sanctions, including bans on arms sales and economic measures.
Meanwhile, British envoy Alan Goulty on Sunday warned Sudanese authorities against withdrawing from the peace process sponsored by the seven nations of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD). Speaking to journalists after meeting Ibrahim Omer, the general secretary of Sudan’s ruling National Congress party, the envoy stressed that Sudan should seize the opportunity for a peace agreement.
Goulty is visiting Khartoum to explore how Britain could help Sudan bring about a comprehensive and just peace settlement. The peace process is expected to face a setback on the issue of religion.
