The U.S. State Department on Wednesday announced it has barred the entry of Salah Gosh, former director-general of Sudan’s National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) to the country, over his involvement in human rights violations, reported The National.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced Gosh, whose full name is Salah Abdallah Mohammed Salih, and his family including his wife Awatif Mohamed, and daughter, Shima Mohamed, are ineligible for entry into the US.
“Today, the United States designated Salah Abdalla Mohamed Mohamed Salih, known as Salah Gosh, the former director-general of Sudan’s National Intelligence and Security Services …due to his involvement in gross violations of human rights,” Mr. Pompeo said. “Specifically, the department has credible information that Salah Gosh was involved in torture during his tenure.”
Mr. Pompeo asserted that the US government supports the Sudanese people’s call for a civilian-led transitional government and differs fundamentally from the Bashir regime, particularly on the protection of human rights.
Notably, Gosh was a close ally of ousted Sudanese president Omar Al Bashir. He served for almost four decades in Sudan’s intelligence services, where he was accused of using oppressive tactics and torture.
The 63-year-old had to resign from his position after the military coup that ousted Omar Al Bashir in April due to public pressure.
Gosh was credited with building NISS into one of the most powerful security agencies of Bashir’s regime during his tenure as the chief, which initially lasted until 2009. He was later jailed on accusations that he had planned a coup to topple Bashir, but the president pardoned him as no evidence was found against him. Bashir reappointed Gosh to head the security service again in February 2018.
Back in April, rights group Amnesty International had urged the ruling military council to examine Gosh’s actions during a deadly crackdown against protesters in the final weeks of Bashir’s rule.
