Sudan: property of relatives of Omar el-Bashir seized

Former Sudanese President Omar el-Béchir leaves the office of the prosecutor in charge of corruption cases in Khartoum, June 16, 2019. REUTERS / Umit Bektas

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In Sudan, justice continues to dissolve the system of the old regime. Property belonging to many close to the ex-dictator Omar el-Béchir is being seized. The announcement came Thursday evening from the Special Committee created last December and tasked with dismantling the corruption network of the former power, which fell a year ago.

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With our permanent correspondent in Nairobi, Sébastien Németh

"  The size of corruption during the reign of Omar al-Bashir exceeds what one could imagine,  " said Wadji Saleh. Member of the Committee responsible for recovering the wealth looted by the old regime, he and his colleagues shelled the seized property.

There are many properties, sometimes luxurious, as well as around 100,000 m2 of land. All of this belongs to some 20 relatives of the ex-dictator, whether they are brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews or even a former minister.

Controversies…

Goods fraudulently acquired through close ties with the former president explained the Committee, and which will be handed over to the Ministry of Finance.

“  The days when officials took money from the weak are over. It is a message sent to previous and current officials  , ”promised Committee number 2 Muhammad Al Faki Suleiman.

Since December, this institution has been battering the galaxy Omar el-Béchir, which is rapidly losing what it has accumulated in almost 30 years of reign. But these “clean hands” operations are not without controversy, as the Committee itself includes officials from the former power.

Already sentenced to two years in prison, Omar el-Béchir is under other proceedings, for the murder of demonstrators or his role in the 1989 coup. As for his transfer to the International Criminal Court, which has been going on for over 10 years, we still don't know if it will ever happen.

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  • Sudan
  • Omar el-Béchir
  • Corruption