Executive Secretary of IGAD, Workneh Gebeyehu said that the hope for a brighter future burns strongly within us as we endeavor to restore peace and normalcy in Sudan. The secretary shared on social media that: 'As we embark upon a new year and commemorate Sudan's Independence Day, my heartfelt thoughts turn to the people of Sudan.' Workneh added that IGAD will reinforce endeavors to restore peace and normalcy to the lives of our brothers and sisters in Sudan. 'The hard-won independence fought for by the Sudanese people stands as a beacon that we must safeguard from dimming. Through the endured trials, the resilience of the Sudanese people shines brightly, reminding us that even this, too, shall pass,' he stated. Source: Ethiopian News Agency The request for the release of the president of the Free Destourian Party (PDL), Abir Moussi, has been rejected", said her lawyers at a press conference held at the party's headquarters on Thursday. Her lawyer, Karim Krifa, stressed that "the chief investigating judge did not respond to the defence's request for release". "Failure to rule on the request for Moussi's release within the deadline set by Article 87 of the Code of Criminal Procedure is in itself an implicit refusal." Last Friday, Moussi's defence team submitted a request for her release to the dean of investigating judges at the Tunis Court of First Instance. The request was written and signed by members of Moussi's "defence committee", officially mandated by the National Order of Tunisian Lawyers (ONAT), chaired by the President of the Tunisian Bar Association, Hatem Meziou. Krifa added that the defence committee's request had been thoroughly examined, but that the dean of investigating judges had yet to issue a decision. Moussi was arreste d on October 3 in front of the registry office of the presidential palace in Carthage as she was preparing to file a complaint against the publication of decrees on local elections. The PDL leader was accused of "changing the form of government, inciting citizens to arm themselves against each other and spreading disorder in the country." Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse