Sudan detains Ahmed Haroun again amid war and ICC charges
Sudan's military authorities have re-arrested Ahmed Haroun, a former senior official under Omar al-Bashir wanted by the ICC for war crimes in Darfur. Haroun was detained in Omdurman, with no official reason given. His re-arrest follows his recent podcast comments on political and military divisions amid Sudan's ongoing conflict. The National Congress Party demands his release, citing freedom of expression.
Sudan’s military authorities on Sunday re-arrested Ahmed Haroun, a former senior Islamist official wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for atrocities related to the Darfur conflict in the early 2000s, according to two defense lawyers.
Haroun, who served as a senior security official during Omar al-Bashir’s rule and later chaired the former ruling National Congress Party, was detained in Omdurman, near the capital Khartoum. His lawyers, speaking anonymously, reported that his whereabouts were unknown after his detention.
Previously detained in April 2019 following al-Bashir’s ouster, Haroun had been held alongside other senior officials wanted by the ICC. The military refused to hand them over to the international court.
The Darfur conflict began in 2003 when rebels from ethnic central and sub-Saharan African communities launched an insurgency against the Arab-dominated government. Haroun faces ICC charges including crimes against humanity and war crimes such as murder, rape, persecution, forced population transfer, and torture between 2003 and 2004. He denies these charges.
Haroun escaped detention after a prison attack in April 2024 during fighting between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). His recent re-arrest reportedly relates to comments he made in a podcast about political and military alignments amid the ongoing war that erupted in April 2023.
The National Congress Party has called for Haroun’s immediate release, arguing his detention is due to expressing his opinions. The party did not address his ICC wanted status.
Sudan’s current conflict has seen atrocities including mass rape and ethnically motivated killings, especially in Darfur, where the RSF’s attacks have been described by UN experts as bearing “hallmarks of genocide.” These acts are considered war crimes and crimes against humanity by the United Nations and international rights groups.
