Efforts to impose conformity on one of the most diverse countries in the world lead inevitably to discrimination and violations of international protections for minorities. Military tribunal proceedings are secret, and provide few procedural safeguards, often with no counsel present and no effective appeal from a death sentence. While some independent press was allowed to reopen, but a few were then permanently closed and others suspended for weeks following articles of which the government disapproved. Newspaper staff have been harassed or detained. During the elections of March 1996, the limits on the press appeared to be somewhat relaxed, but it is not clear whether this will be permitted in future.
Political parties remain banned.
Some trade unions and professional associations have been permitted to form, but their independence is severely limited. Other demonstrators are regularly harassed and detained. Freedom of movement inside Sudan has been severely restricted, with the southern region off-limits to many. Former security detainees find their movement restricted even to other towns, and they and many others face obstacles when seeking exit visas for travel abroad. Some Muslim sects critical of the government and the National Islamic Front have been harassed.