Sudanese Authorities Arrest Former National Congress Party Leader Ahmed Haroun
Khartoum (Sudanese Echoes) – Two officials from Sudan’s former ruling National Congress Party (NCP) said that the army had arrested the party’s Delegated Chairman, Ahmed Haroun, according to Reuters.
Haroun had remained out of public view since the fall of Omar Al-Bashir’s regime in 2019. Several complaints were filed against him over charges related to the killing of protesters who were demanding the regime’s ouster, in addition to other charges. He is also wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on charges related to alleged war crimes and genocide in the Darfur region during 2003–2004, when he was an influential figure in the ousted regime.
Following the outbreak of war in 2023 and the release of prisoners from jails amid security turmoil, Haroun announced his willingness to turn himself in and return to prison whenever requested by the judiciary.
In a podcast interview broadcast by Sudan Television on Saturday, Haroun said that the National Congress Party and the army might not be politically aligned, but they were united in the war against the militia.
Two National Congress Party officials confirmed Haroun’s arrest, but the reason for his detention remained unclear.
Haroun’s public appearance sparked widespread controversy, with some arguing that he was wanted by the courts and should be arrested by the authorities. Meanwhile, National Congress Party supporters welcomed his appearance in public and described it as a courageous move.