Sudanese authorities released National Umma Party leader El Sadig El Mahdi on Sunday after nearly a month in detention, according to the state news agency and independent reports.

El Mahdi, who was detained on 17 May, was accused of undermining the constitution, a charge that could have led to the death penalty. The Umma Party leader had denounced the widespread attacks against civilians in Darfur by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), commanded by the National Security and Intelligence Service (NISS).

State Minister of Information Yasir Yousef, speaking to Reuters news agency, said the release of El Mahdi came within a “legal framework” but he did not give further details.

El Mahdi’s daughter, Maryam El Sadig, told Radio Dabanga that the authorities released him at 5pm on Sunday following the mediation by a committee of prominent Sudanese nationalists to release both El Mahdi and Ibrahim El Sheikh, head of the Sudanese Congress Party, who is still detained. 

File photo: El Sadig El Mahdi being welcomed by his followers after his release (Radio Dabanga)