UAE Releases Sudanese Politician After 19 Months in Detention

The Emirati authorities on Saturday released prominent Sudanese politician Mohamed Farouk Suleiman, former Deputy Chairman of the Sudanese National Alliance Party and a founding member of the Forces of Freedom and Change, after approximately 19 months in detention without formal charges being brought against him or his appearance at a public trial.

Following his release, Farouk arrived in Port Sudan, Sudan’s interim administrative capital.

Sudanese political circles and solidarity campaigns have linked Farouk’s detention to his outspoken political positions. He was among the prominent voices to publicly criticize the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) role in the Sudanese conflict, warning of the consequences of Abu Dhabi’s intervention and its logistical and military support for the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia. His colleagues considered these positions a key factor behind his targeting, describing his case as part of a broader pattern of restrictions against Sudanese activists opposed to the RSF in the UAE.

The Emirati authorities, for their part, indicated in April 2025 that Farouk was under investigation on charges of “insulting the UAE President through social media platforms. Civil society campaigns rejected the allegation and maintained that his detention was unlawful.

The case dates back to January 19, 2025, when UAE State Security authorities detained Farouk at Dubai International Airport as he was preparing to travel to Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, to participate in meetings involving Sudanese political forces.