KHARTOUM – Sudan’s General Intelligence Service (GIS) has issued a warning saying four members – three foreigners and one Sudanese national – of the Al-Qaeda terrorist organization are working inside the country planning terrorist operations in Africa that would target diplomatic missions of the Gulf countries in the continent, according to a secret letter addressed to the public prosecution by the spy agency.
The letter dated April 19 was first circulated on social media and in a statement issued on Wednesday, the General Intelligence Service said it has concrete reasons to believe that three foreigners and one Sudanese national are in the country planning terrorist operations on behalf of the Al-Qaeda, urging the public prosecution to issue warrant for their arrest.
The letter asked the Attorney General in the capital Khartoum to immediately “certify the arrest of 4 members of the terrorist organization Al-Qaeda,” and indicated that the information in the agency’s possession indicates that this group intends to “carry out terrorist attacks targeting the Gulf embassies in Africa and turn the country into a field of terrorist operations.”
It remains unclear where exactly the alleged members of the terrorist organization are currently based in Sudan. According to the secret letter of the GIS, two of the alleged members of Al-Qaeda hold Egyptian nationality while the third foreigner holds a Nigerian nationality. The forth holds a Sudanese nationality.
In the letter to the Sudanese Public Prosecution, the General Intelligence Service said: “We recommend the issuance of an arrest warrant against them due to their danger to the Sudanese national security and their contribution to the growth of terrorist activity in the region.”
In a statement on Wednesday, the General Intelligence Service seemed to be confirming the authenticity of the letter circulating on social media saying that the content of the letter does not “does not go beyond, or deviate from what was agreed upon in the constitutional document or infringe on the powers of others.”
The statement added that “It is a normal procedure among state institutions that is at the core of the duties and tasks entrusted to the institution, but rather confirms the new shift in work that requires support, considering that it is a step conducive to the security and safety of the country.”