Sudan Social Development Organization (SUDO)

The Chairperson of the Sudan Social Development Organization (SUDO) was released from detention in Khartoum on Monday 16 May 2005. Dr Mudawi had been arrested on Sunday 8 May 2005 just hours before he was due to board a flight en route to Ireland where he was to be presented with the inaugural Front Line Award for human rights defenders by the President of Ireland Mary McAleese.

"I do thank all of those people who supported me," said Dr Mudawi, "the pressure is part of the reason for my release." Front Line is calling on the Sudanese authorities to drop all charges against him and to ensure that human rights defenders are free to engage in their peaceful and legitimate activities.  

Dr Mudawi Ibrahim Adam is due to receive the inaugural Front Line Award from President McAleese at a ceremony in Dublin's City Hall on Friday morning (13 May 2005). He was selected for the award because of his courageous and inspiring work for human rights in Sudan, including in Darfur, which led to him being twice imprisoned in the last year. At 11.00 am on Sunday 8th of May he was arrested in the street in Khartoum North, hours before he was due to board a flight en route to Ireland.

"The actions of the Sudanese authorities betray their contempt for the protection of human rights," said Front Line Director Mary Lawlor, "this new arrest of Dr Mudawi is a further attempt to silence those who work for the rights of others in Sudan. They will not succeed."

Dr Mudawi Ibrahim Adam is the Chairperson of the Sudan Social Development Organization (SUDO). SUDO, is a voluntary organization created to promote sustainable development and Human Rights. It is engaged in humanitarian activities including providing emergency services in North, South and West Darfur as well as in human rights education and development projects throughout the country. Dr Mudawi is  

Front Line is concerned for the safety of Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam, human rights defender and Director of the Sudan Social Development Organization (SUDO), and Salah Mohammed Abu Alrahman, a volunteer with SUDO. Both are being held incommunicado at the National Security Centre in Khartoum.

According to the information received, Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam and Mr. Salah Mohammed Abu Alrahman were arrested in a small village called Kondoua (North Kordufan) on 24 January 2005. The men have allegedly been arrested for interrogation by the national security forces; they were reportedly being held at the security headquarter in Umrouaba city but have been transferred to Al Obeid, the capital of North Kurdofan State. At present, neither the family of Salah Mohammed Abu Alrahman nor that of Dr. Mudawi have been informed as to the purpose of the arrest.  

On 28 December 2003, Madawi Ibrahim Adam, chair of the Sudan Social Development Organization (SUDO), was arrested at his home in Omdurman by the National Security Agency. His house was damaged and searched, and some documents were seized, including a project for the development of water stations in southern Sudan.

His office at Lamda Engineering Company in Khartoum was also searched, and his computer was confiscated. He was put in prison without being charged or given any reason for his arrest. On 31 December 2003, he was allowed to call his wife to tell her that he was well and to ask for some clothes. On 7 January 2003, his wife was allowed to see him. However, he is still being held in Kober prison.

Front Line has raised the case directly with the Sudanese authorities and called for his release. Front Line expressed concern that the arrest of Mr. Madawi Ibrahim Adam is linked to the activities of SUDO on behalf of sustainable development and human rights. Madawi Ibrahim Adam had carried out a workshop on human rights education in Shendi on 27 December 2003, one day before his arrest.