THE SUDANESE Communist Party warned of state persecution after the arrest of Amal al-Zain who was released in the early hours of this morning. 

She was the latest member of a party delegation to the South Sudanese capital Juba to be detained by the security forces. 

General secretary Muhammad Mokhtar al-Khatib and SCP executive committee member Saleh Mahmoud were held last week as their plane arrived at Khartoum International Airport. 

Sudanese authorities swooped to arrest Ms Zain stopping her car in the Sudanese capital. It is not clear why she was held or if charges have been brought against her. 

Prior to her arrest she had participated in a press conference regarding the trip to South Sudan where the SCP delegation met with the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army, led by Abdul Wahid Muhammad Nour, and the People Liberation Movement for North Sudan led by Abdul Aziz al-Halou.

The party condemned her arrest and said that the latest attacks on the party were part of a government ploy to target the mass movement and freedom of organisation. 

“The arrest of comrade Amal is clear proof of the continuation of the attacks perpetuated by the junta directed against the Communist Party. 

“It is part of the general repression and persecution unleashed by the junta against the opposition forces mainly the SCP, the resistance committees, and democratic and patriotic forces,” spokesman Fathi Alfadl said. 

The party played a leading role in the revolutionary movement that ousted former president Omar al-Bashir in 2019. 

It has continued to press for civilian rule since the military seized power in a coup last year. 

Mass street protests have been met with a violent response with hundreds detained and more than 90 people killed. 

The SCP said political organisations and the Sudanese public as well as sister parties helped secure their comrades’ release through their actions. 

“We in the Communist Party praise this solidarity, from regional [and] international parties and organisations.

“We express our full respect and gratitude to all those who stood in solidarity with our people and the Communist Party leaders,” the communists said. 

The party urged the international community and human rights organisations to “exert maximum pressure on Sudan’s ruling junta for the unconditional and immediate release of all members of neighbourhood committees as well as political detainees.”