The Tunisian government has denied any ties to an alleged spy ring operating in Sudan, the Tunisian Al Shurook newspaper said on Saturday.
Sudanese authorities have accused a Tunisian and six Sudanese of being involved in spying.
The Tunisian, Ali bin Mustafa bin Hamed, whom the Sudanese
authorities described as the organization’s leader, is “a fleeing criminal” who has been condemned for his membership in a fundamentalist faction and for his participation in “terrorist” operations, according to the paper.
But the Sudanese now apparently believe that the so-called defector is a spy for the Tunisian government.
The report said Sudan had been sponsoring Bin Hamed for 17 years, along with a number of other “terrorists” who had fled Tunisia and enrolled in “terrorist training camps.”
These camps were allegedly established by Sheikh Hassan Al Turabi before Sudanese President Ali Hasan Al Bashir dismissed him, added the daily.
Al Shurook’s account claims Sudanese authorities fabricated the story to lessen the outrage among the Sudanese public after the Tunisian press revealed the Sudanese government’s involvement in financing Al Mustakillah Satellite channel and transferring a great deal of money to Al Hashemi Al Hmaidi and other “media mercenaries” abroad.
The daily denied any connection between the alleged espionage issue and the departure of Tunisian Ambassador to Sudan Mohammed Al Blahi, reiterating that Sudanese authorities were informed several weeks ago of the ambassador’s imminent return home after completing his mission in Sudan – Albawaba.com
