Sudan to unleash cyber jihadists on dissenting opposition

Khartoum (Sudan), Mar. 24 (ANI): Sudan's ruling National Congress Party has warned that its "cyber jihadists" will "crush" internet-based dissent.

The vice-president of the Khartoum state, Mandur Al-Mahdi, warned opposition groups that its "cyber battalion" was leading "online defence operations".

The country saw anti-government street protests in January.

The government, which seized power in a military coup in 1989, is concerned about uprisings similar to those seen across the Middle East and North Africa, the BBC reports.

It reacted violently to street protests organised by opposition parties, detaining many activists.

In the run-up to the January protests, supporters of the NCP posted messages on the Facebook pages of dissidents, warning them against joining in.

So far the protests, organised by groups from Sudan's Darfur region, have failed to attract mass popularity. (ANI)