23 November 2024

Sudan Mourns Death of Prominent Opposition Leader Ali Mahmoud Hassanein

Prominent opposition leader, Ali Mahmoud Hassanein, has passed away in Sudan early morning on Friday, 24 May at the age of 85. The cause of death is yet to be determined.

Following the ousting of former Sudanese President Omar Al Bashir, Hassanien returned to Sudan after approximately 20 years in exile. He was a lawyer, vocal critic of the government and has spoken against restrictions on press freedoms and security abuses. Before his exile, he has been detained many times for his anti-governemnt campaigns and for attempting to overthrow the government.

Many took to social media to pay their respects and express their sadness over the news of his death.

Since Hassanien’s return to Sudan, he has participated in several anti-govenrment street protests. As the leader of the Alliance of Freedom and Change, which is also known as the Declaration of Freedom and Change (DFC), he played a major role in talks with the Transitional Military Council (TMC). Hassanien also was the leader of the Broad National Front (BNF) and Deputy Chairman of the Unionist Democratic Party (UDP).

Hassanien fought against Al Bashir’s rule and demanded the he and his officer be put on trial on charges of undermining democratic rule for leading the 1989 Sudanese coup d’état, which brought Al Bashir to power. In addition, he supported the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) arrest warrant in 2009 and 2010 for Al Bashir for crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide in Darfur. As a result, as he was in Sudan at the time, he was briefly detained then released. He then fled Sudan, fearing for his life.

A funeral procession will take place at 1:30 pm (GMT +2), following dhur (noon) prayers, in the mass sit-in in Al Qeyada in front of the headquarters of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), where thousands of protesters have camped since 6 April, demanding for a civilian rule after the ousting of former Sudanese President Omar Al Bashir. Hassanien will then be buried in Ahmed Asharfi Cemetery at 4 pm (GMT +2), following asr (afternoon) prayers.

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