Sudanese Security Bans Pro-Communist Newspaper

{{Sudan’s National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) has banned al-Midan newspaper that is the mouthpiece of the Sudanese Communist Party’s (SCP) in the latest sign of continued crackdown by authorities on the press.}}

Madiha Abdulla, the editor in chief of al-Midan, said in press statements that NISS informed them of the decision prior to printing its latest edition adding that the printing house told them that authorities ordered them not to print the newspaper anymore.

She also noted that Al-Midan’s distributing company Gamary, refused to distribute the newspaper last week under pressure from NISS as well.

The newspaper is believed to have angered the government by publishing certain items in the past including a column by the chief editor herself containing scathing criticism of president Omer Hassan al-Bashir.

Al-Midan also quoted eyewitnesses in North Kordofan town of Um Rawaba as saying that Popular Defense Forces (PDF) have armed 1,500 civilians to protect Abu-Kershola besides reporting that rebels have downed a helicopter belonging to the Iranian air force.

Abu-Kershola which is located in north east of South Kordofan state and on the border with North Kordofan, had been seized by the rebel Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF) fighters in late April, but SAF was able to recapture the town this week.

{ST}