شمال كردفان: اعتقال المعلم علي الزبير شمال كردفان لمطالبته بالحقوق

• Teacher Ali Al-Zubair was arrested from his home in North Kordofan by the Security Cell on a Wednesday, reported on September 13, 2026.
• His detention is linked to his demands for increased wages and the payment of teachers' arrears in Sudan.
• The Sudanese Teachers' Committee has demanded his immediate, unconditional release and holds security agencies responsible for his safety.
• The committee stated that using arrests to silence teachers will not resolve issues like low wages and delayed payments.
• This incident is part of a broader trend of security actions against teachers involved in union activities or expressing views on wages and the war.

The committee firmly asserted that resorting to arrest and detention as a means to silence teachers will not resolve the underlying issues they face.

Ali Al-Zubair, a teacher in North Kordofan, was apprehended from his residence and subsequently taken to the headquarters of the Security Cell in the state. The Sudanese Teachers' Committee reported this incident on Sunday, September 13, 2026, indicating that Al-Zubair's detention occurred the preceding Wednesday. The committee explicitly linked his arrest to his advocacy for increased wages and the broader rights of teachers in Sudan.

Information available to the committee suggests that the primary catalyst for the detention of Ali Al-Zubair was his persistent demands for the disbursement of outstanding teachers' arrears and the implementation of official decisions and circulars aimed at improving their service conditions. This incident in Al-Obeid highlights a growing pattern of security interventions against individuals vocal about labor rights within the education sector.

Across various Sudanese states, the education sector has witnessed a surge in calls from workers for better remuneration, the payment of delayed financial entitlements, and the enforcement of service-related mandates. This environment of heightened labor activism is set against a backdrop of severe economic and humanitarian crises, largely exacerbated by the ongoing conflict, which has further complicated the operational capacity of state institutions and the delivery of essential services.

The detention of Ali Al-Zubair is not an isolated event. The Sudanese Teachers' Committee has noted an increase in complaints from educators regarding the continued arrest or summoning of their colleagues by security agencies. These actions are frequently attributed to the individuals' involvement in union activities or their expressed opinions concerning the ongoing war and the necessity of improving wages, contributing to a climate of fear among `نقابيين السودان`.

Following Al-Zubair's arrest, the Sudanese Teachers' Committee issued a strong statement, calling upon authorities in North Kordofan to immediately disclose the reasons for his detention and his current whereabouts. The committee further demanded his unconditional release without delay, holding the security agencies fully accountable for his safety and warning against any potential violations of his rights during custody.

The committee firmly asserted that resorting to arrest and detention as a means to silence teachers will not resolve the underlying issues they face. These systemic problems include inadequate salaries, the accumulation of financial arrears, and the persistent obstruction of decisions and financial entitlements. The committee also appealed to lawyers, trade unionists, civil society organizations, and pro-freedom advocates to lend their support to Al-Zubair and press for his liberation, emphasizing that his arrest would not diminish the legitimate `مطالبات زيادة أجور المعلمين السودان` and `حقوق المعلمين السودان`.

The detention of Ali Al-Zubair by the `الخلية الأمنية شمال كردفان` raises significant concerns regarding arbitrary detention and the suppression of labor activism. This incident underscores the potential for human rights violations by security forces when individuals advocate for improved working conditions and basic rights. The pattern of `اعتقالات نقابيين السودان` suggests a broader challenge to freedom of expression and association within the country.

Legal professionals and compliance officers operating in Sudan should be acutely aware of the heightened risks associated with such incidents. Monitoring cases like that of Ali Al-Zubair is crucial for identifying opportunities for legal intervention and advocacy, particularly in safeguarding fundamental freedoms and ensuring accountability for actions taken against activists exercising their rights.

Lawyers and compliance officers in Sudan should be aware of the heightened risk of arbitrary detention and suppression of labor activism, particularly concerning demands for improved working conditions. This incident highlights potential human rights violations by security forces and the need to monitor cases of detained activists for legal intervention or advocacy regarding freedom of expression and association.

Source: Original reporting via Sudan Tribune