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Darfur Consortium urges that due process be accorded detained Darfur negotiator

(NEW YORK, September 29, 2023) - In a statement issued in Kampala today, the Darfur Consortium expressed concern for the safety and personal security of Abulgasim Ahmed Abulgasim, a Darfurian expatriate who has been residing in Saudi Arabia for about 20 years. He was deported from Saudi Arabia late on Thursday night and is now reportedly in the custody of the Sudanese authorities.

Mr. Abulgasim, a political opponent of the Sudanese government, was a member of the negotiating team for the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM), during the Inter-Sudanese Peace Talks in Abuja. He originates from Kutum area in North Darfur. It is understood that Mr. Abulgasim was arrested further to his participation in a public panel organised by the Sudanese Embassy in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, earlier this week on the implications of UN Security Council Resolution 1706 (2006). During this panel he is said to have expressed support for the decision of the UN body and the deployment of international troops to protect civilian populations in Darfur.

Human rights organisations have expressed grave concern that Mr. Abulgasim has been forcibly returned to Sudan and is now at risk of being subjected to ill-treatment, torture and incommunicado detention.

The Darfur Consortium urges that the full protection of international human rights law, as provided for in Sudan’s law and Interim Constitution, be accorded to Mr. Abulgasim, in particular, the right to be advised of the reasons for his deportation and detention, and the nature of any charges against him. He must also be permitted to challenge the basis for his deportation and detention, and released if so ordered. In the immediate term Mr. Abulgasim must be permitted access to a lawyer of his choice, and to receive any medical attention which he requires.

The Darfur Consortium represents over forty Africa-based and Africa-focused civil society organisations working together to promote a just, peaceful and sustainable end to the ongoing humanitarian and human rights crisis in Darfur.

1 TOGO SANS ETHNIES

Action Professionals Association for the People

Aegis Trust Rwanda

African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies

African Center for Development

African Center for Justice and Peace Studies

Africa Internally Displaced Persons Voice (Africa IDP Voice)

African Security Dialogue and Research (ASDR)

African Women's Development and Communications Network (FEMNET)

The Ahueni Foundation

Alliances for Africa

Amman Centre for Human Rights Studies

Andalus Institute for Tolerance

Anti-Slavery International

Arab Coalition for Darfur

Arab Program for Human Rights Activists

Association Africaine de Defense des Droits de l'Homme (ASADHO)

Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies

Centre for Minority Rights Development (CEMIRIDE)

Centre for Research Education and Development of Freedom of Expression and Associated Rights (CREDO)

Citizens for Global Solutions

Conscience International

Conseil National Pour les Libertés en Tunisie

Darfur Alert Coalition (DAC)

Darfur Centre for Human Rights and Development

Darfur Leaders Network (DLN)

Darfur Reconciliation and Development Organization (DRDO)

Darfur Relief and Documentation Centre

East Africa Law Society

Egyptian Organization for Human Rights

Femmes Africa Solidarité

La Fédération Internationale des Droits de l'Homme (FIDH)

Forum of African Affairs (FOAA)

Human Rights First

Human Rights Institute of South Africa (HURISA)

Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa

Institute for Security Studies

Inter-African Union for Human Rights (UIDH)

Interights

International Commission of Jurists (ICJ Kenya)

International Refugee Rights Initiative

Justice Africa

Justice and Peace Commission

Lawyers for Human Rights

Lebanese Association for Democratic Elections

Legal Resources Consortium-Nigeria

Ligue Tunisienne des Droits de l'Homme

Makumira University College, Tumaini University

Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)

Minority Rights Group

National Association of Seadogs

Never Again International

Open Society Justice Initiative

Pan-African Movement

Rencontre Africaine Pour la Defense des Droits de l'Homme (RADDHO)

Sierra Leone STAND Chapter

Sisters' Arabic Forum for Human Rights (SAF)

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP)

Sudan Organization Against Torture (SOAT)

Syrian Organization for Human Rights

Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC)

Universal Human Rights Network

WARIPNET

Women Initiative Nigeria (WIN)