Sudanese army arrests al-Bashir’s top aide

Mohamed Shaath

The Sudanese army has detained 100 loyalists of Omar al-Bashir, who was put under house arrest after massive demonstrations that called for toppling Sudan’s regime. The army detained Ali Uthman Taha, former vice president.

Taha emerged with the very beginning of al-Bashir’s rule in 1989. He was among the top Sudanese officials who vowed to back the Islamist movement despite any hardships.

According to a book titled “The Sudanese Islamist Movement”, authored by Al-Mahboub Abdel Salam six top officials including Taha have taken an oath to support the Islamist movement.

Therefore, it is evident that the man has played a key role in founding al-Bashir’s regime which lasted for 30 years. For that reason, it was imperative to arrest him.

Taha’s statements exposed his rejection of the popular movement claiming that the army “wouldn’t intervene to back the popular movement”, citing that such popular calls mean the inability of these groups to reach their objective, stressing that “the army will never intervene”.

Taha has totally supported al-Bashir’s regime, asserting that there are battalions which are ready to defend al-Bashir. “There are battalions that will defend him with their lives,” Taha said.

Some observers have said such battalions are militias of the ruling National Congress Party.

In a recent television interview, Taha threatened what he described as ‘shadow troops’ that seek to protect the regime. Following such statements, independent MP Abul-Qassem Bartam accused the Sudanese ruling party of killing protesters, who demonstrated against the deteriorating economic conditions, calling for toppling the regime.