Order to hand in weapons

Registered opposition political parties have been ordered to turn in unlicensed weapons, used to guard their leaders and offices. Mohammed Ahmed Salim, who oversees political parties and organisations, told journalists on 1 February he had received a letter from the interior ministry instructing him to ask parties to deliver weapons unlawfully held by their followers, Agence France Press (AFP) said. He said possession of such arms violated the Weapons and Ammunition Act a swell as the Political Parties and Organisation Act which bans military or paramilitary organisations and use or manifestation of force of arms.

Observers said the only militant, armed parties were Hassan al-Turabi’s Popular National Congress, Sadiq al-Mahdi’s Umma party, and the south Sudanese United Democratic Salvation Front, of which Hassan al-Turabi’s party appears to be the biggest challenge to the recently reelected President Omar al-Beshir.