Sudan’s president pardon imprisoned British journalist

Sudanese President Omar Hassan Al Bashir decided to pardon a British journalist called Philip Cocks, as he was arrested in Darfur in January. The journalist has been accused of entering the country in illegal way and taking actions violating the country’s national security. The Sudanese security and intelligence authorities handed the French citizen to the embassy of his country in Khartoum.

Cocks works as a filmmaker and is considered one of the first people who transferred the conflict in Darfur to the world, as he visited the region before in the beginning of conflict in 2003.

Sudanese authorities clarified that Cocks entered the country in illegal way and has been accused of adopting activities harming the country’s national interests.

The presidential decree to pardon the British journalist came upon request submitted by the British government. According to sources, Cocks was arrested by the Sudanese authorities on January 21. During the investigations, he acknowledged that he entered the country in illegal way then he was transferred to Khartoum to take the necessary measures against him.

On his hand, British Ambassador to Khartoum Michel Aron expressed his appreciation to the Sudanese government for its wise dealing with the issue, praising the cooperative efforts exerted by the Sudanese government to end the issue.

The British diplomat pledged to take the necessary measures to depart the British journalist to London as soon as possible.