Wagdi Salih, a well-known Sudanese politician, was released from prison just one day before his civilian coalition was set to sign a first agreement with the military to end a political deadlock caused by an October 2021 coup.
Following the ouster of former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir in 2019, leftist politician Salih was in charge of an anti-corruption commission and was released on Sunday at a police station in the nation’s capital Khartoum.
The generals who had been co-ruling with the civilian Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC) until they staged their takeover attacked the committee, stalling the transition that was supposed to lead to democratic elections.
Salih and a policeman who had been on the committee were both released. His October arrest was seen as “purely political” by his FFC coalition.
Since the coup, Sudan has been without a prime minister, and its already-in-crisis economy has stagnated as a result of the suspension of billions of dollars in international financial aid.
The military and the FFC declared on Friday that they intended to sign a framework agreement for a civilian-led transition that would start after a final pact is inked, along with other groups.
The United Nations, the US, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, among others, have helped to organise talks.
Salih has been taken into custody by the authorities previously. Security incarcerated him forcibly in the capital city of Khartoum in February.