Sudanese Teachers Committee: Security Summons Strike Leaders Amidst Ongoing Action

• On November 5, 2026, the Sudanese Teachers Committee announced that two members were summoned by the Security Cell in Khartoum's Am Badda locality.
• The summons occurred during the teachers' strike, which was in its third week, protesting poor professional and living conditions.
• One summoned member, Mohamed Adam, was taken to security headquarters despite suffering from a broken leg and being bedridden for over a month.
• The committee accused authorities of using security measures to restrict union work and influence the strike, rather than addressing educational issues.
• The committee held authorities responsible for its members' safety and vowed to continue the strike under the slogan 'Long-Breath Strike'.

The committee explicitly accused the authorities of resorting to repressive tactics to stifle legitimate labor movements, rather than engaging in constructive dialogue to resolve the underlying issues that led to the strike.

On Thursday, November 5, 2026, the Sudanese Teachers Committee announced that two of its members from the Am Badda locality in Khartoum state had been summoned by the Security Cell. This development occurred as the teachers' strike, now in its second day of the third week, continued across Khartoum state. The industrial action was initiated to protest the challenging professional and living conditions faced by educators, with demands for improved service terms and the fulfillment of union-related requests.

The committee identified the summoned individuals as Al-Nayer Al-Tarifi Hamad Al-Nil and Mohamed Adam. Their summons was directly linked to their involvement in the union activities surrounding the ongoing teachers' strike. A particularly concerning aspect of the incident involved Mohamed Adam, who has been confined to bed for over a month due to a broken leg. Despite his significant health condition, he was reportedly transported to the headquarters of the Security and Intelligence Service within Am Badda locality, under the accusation of inciting the strike.

The Sudanese Teachers Committee strongly criticized the authorities, asserting that security measures and summons were being employed as a tactic instead of addressing the dire conditions within the education sector and the plight of teachers. The committee views these actions as a deliberate attempt to curtail union activities and influence the trajectory of the strike, which is a fundamental aspect of Sudan labor union rights.

Such interventions by the Security Cell raise significant questions regarding the respect for freedom of association Sudan is obligated to uphold. The committee explicitly accused the authorities of resorting to repressive tactics to stifle legitimate labor movements, rather than engaging in constructive dialogue to resolve the underlying issues that led to the strike. This pattern of security force actions against teachers union members detained Sudan highlights a challenging environment for organized labor.

In response to the Khartoum Am Badda security summons, the Sudanese Teachers Committee unequivocally held the authorities responsible for the safety and well-being of its two members. The committee issued a firm demand for an immediate cessation of all summons and security restrictions, emphasizing the imperative to respect teachers' fundamental rights to organize and engage in strikes.

Furthermore, the committee called upon all teachers to maintain their solidarity, unity, and commitment to their demands. It reiterated its resolve to continue the industrial action, affirming that the strike would persist under the banner of the “Long-Breath Strike.” This declaration underscores the committee's determination to achieve its objectives despite the escalating security pressures.

Lawyers advising organizations or individuals involved in labor activism or union activities in Sudan should be aware of the heightened risk of state intervention and security force actions, such as summons and detentions, against union members. This incident highlights potential violations of freedom of association and labor rights, necessitating careful legal counsel on navigating the challenging regulatory and security environment for labor movements in Sudan.

Source: Original reporting via Sudan Tribune