The Sudanese security authorities on Friday detained a leading member of the National Consensus Forces upon his return from the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa after a meeting with leaders of the Sudan Revolutionary Front.

Dr Mohamed Hassan Babiker was detained by security officers early on Friday morning at Khartoum airport upon his return from Addis Ababa, according to opposition sources.

Siddig Yousef, spokesman for the National Consensus Forces told Radio Dabanga, “The detention of Babiker confirms the ruling National Congress Party’s lack of seriousness concerning the National Dialogue.”

“The government is blocking the efforts of the opposition, fearing they will become too strong. They consider the rapprochement between the Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF, an alliance of the main rebel movements) and the NCF a threat.”

Yousef himself was prevented by security agents from travelling on 4 September to attend the consultation meetings between the SRF and the the AU High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) team in to Addis Ababa.

He was told at Khartoum Airport that his name appeared on a list of Sudanese prohibited to leave the country.

Meanwhile, the head of the Sudanese Congress Party (SCP), Ibrahim Sheikh, and seven party members are still held in custody, despite an amnesty reportedly granted by President Al Bashir on Wednesday.

File photo: Parade of forces of the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) in Khartoum, December 2013 (Sudan Tribune)