A scheduled visit by members of Sudan’s National Dialogue Committee (NDC) to political detainees in Khartoum’s Kober Prison on Thursday was called off by the Presidency at the last moment.

Hassan Osman Rizig, member of the National Dialogue Committee, and senior member of the Islamic opposition Reform Now Movement, told Radio Dabanga that the visit by a NDC delegation was approved by the Ministry of the Interior and cleared with the prison authorities.

Rizig explained that the purpose of the visit was to meet with detained members of the armed movements to ascertain their physical health and wellbeing. “This visit is designed to promote a favourable atmosphere for negotiations in Addis Ababa,” he said.

“The committee submitted a request to the Interior Ministry; the visit was approved, and scheduled for 10 am on Thursday. However, at 9 am on Thursday, we were surprised to be contacted by the Presidency and the prison management to inform us that the visit has been postponed until a later time.”

No new time has yet been set for the meeting.