Sudan’s Interior Minister, Khalil Basha Sayrin, has revealed that the security forces had arrested over 100 individuals affiliated with three terrorist organizations before the onset of the war.
In a statement to “Al Arabiya/Al Hadath,” Sayrin disclosed that terrorists from ISIS, Al-Qaeda, and Hasm had joined the Rapid Support Forces after escaping from prisons. He attributed their enlistment to financial incentives offered by the paramilitary group, noting that there is no indication that these detainees had planned any terrorist operations within Sudan.
Weapon Smuggling and External Threats
Sayrin also highlighted their objectives as recruitment, weapon smuggling, and conducting financial transactions. He mentioned that the apprehended groups hailed from a diverse array of 12 countries, prominently including Tunisia, Egypt, and Chad.
Furthermore, the minister stated that Sudan has provided the United Nations with lists and data of the wanted individuals to help track them down and mitigate their threat.
Clarifications and Previous Regime Leaders
Adding to the revelations, Sayrin confirmed that there is no Sudanese detainee named Abu Bakr al-Iraqi and mentioned that the army is investigating possible foreign investments and fronts used by terrorists.
Concurrently, he reported that former regime leaders had been released under previous agreements to reside in safe areas. Notably, former President Omar al-Bashir and some politicians are currently located in the “Medical Corps Hospital” in Omdurman. He disclosed that during the ongoing war, approximately 19,790 prisoners have been released, including about 3,000 who were sentenced to death and had escaped from prisons.
Sudan has been embroiled in a conflict since April 2023 between forces loyal to Army Commander Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces led by his former deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. According to the United Nations, the conflict has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and displaced over ten million people.
Moreover, around 26 million people in Sudan are facing severe levels of acute food insecurity, a situation exacerbated by the devastating war, as per a UN report.
