General al-Burhan’s (SAF) continue to tighten its grip on dissent, detaining Muntasir Abdallah, a lawyer representing ousted Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok and other civilian leaders, according to a rights group.
Abdallah, who was arrested on September 7 in Port Sudan, had been requesting access to investigation reports linked to charges against Hamdok and other members of the Coordination of the Democratic and Civil Forces (Tagadum), a coalition critical of SAF rule.
The Human Rights and Freedoms Defence Committee condemned Abdallah’s detention as a clear violation of human rights and an abuse of the justice system for political purposes.
The committee’s statement emphasized that Abdallah’s arrest illustrates the repressive nature of the authorities in SAF-controlled regions, accusing them of using law enforcement as a tool for political persecution.
In the broader context, security forces aligned with Sudan’s military have ramped up pressure on political opponents and humanitarian workers since the military conflict between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) erupted in April.
SAF has increased its indiscriminate airstrikes on population centers, markets and residential buildings in the past month, killing hundreds of civilians and injuring thousands.
Dozens of individuals have also been detained as the SAF escalates its crackdown, fueling accusations of widespread human rights violations and political repression.
This latest arrest deepens concerns that the justice system is being manipulated to silence opposition and stifle efforts toward a democratic transition.
