The Extended Hands Of A Dictator

Published here
Haroun Adam and Abdullahi Mahmoud Hiabo are two Eritrean journalists based in Khartoum and working for Adoulis Media Centre were arrested by the Sudanese National Intelligence & Security Service (NISS) on Monday 24^th Dec, 2012. Their whereabouts still remain unknown.

A close source to the detainees says the reason behind their arrest is organizing a workshop for Eritrean youth in Khartoum on behalf of Red Sea Research Centre and in coordination with the Sudanese Academy for Administrative Sciences. The workshop theme was Crisis Management. The source says that the Eritrean Embassy in Khartoum seems has made a complaint to the Sudanese authorities for allowing organization of activities without the permission of the embassy and regarded that a facilitation of activities for the Eritrean opposition groups in Sudan.

Abdullahi's family has submitted a visit request to the NISS information desk.  They were told the visit is not allowed before spending at least 15 days in detention, they will be informed by the date and time of the visit. Meanwhile nobody knows their place and detention conditions. UNHCR office in Khartoum has been informed by their detention.

On October 2011 another Eritrean journalist, Mr. Jamal Himad was detained for 3 months by NISS in Khartoum. There were fears of handing him over to the Eritrean authorities which is detaining journalists for years without a trial.

In an article written by Abdullahi in 2010 (Press here to read the article in Arabic) he quoted the words of Ali Abdu, Eritrean Minister of Information and the government spokesperson saying they don't want to be trapped in what so called free media, they have their own ways of dealing with issues. He added also there is nothing called opponents there are hired mercenaries' clients. Surprisingly H.E Mr. Ali Abdu has disappeared last month during an official trip to Europe and there is unconfirmed news saying he is seeking asylum.

Eritrea and Sudan seems to be an identical twins in oppressing their people and having the most isolated presidents in the world. While Albashir can travel to few selected places, Aforgi has chosen to isolate his country from the international community by not attending the UN general assembly for 10 years (2001- 2011) and missing no occasion to criticize and insult the institution. On 24th May 2012; Eritrea's national day, Albashir was the one and only president joining the celebrations in Asmara.

Both of the dictators are sharing oppression of their people, isolation from the international community and bringing their countries down as well as cooperating and doing each other favors like detaining Abdullahi & Haroun by the Sudanese authorities on behalf of their fellow Eritreans, without any respect to the international law and under the glare of UNHCR.