Allegations Against Rapid Support Forces Over Detention of Thousands Under Dire Conditions in Darfur

As the humanitarian crisis in Sudan worsens, the Sudan Doctors Network has made grave allegations against the Rapid Support Forces, highlighting systematic abuses in prisons located in South Darfur. According to a statement from the network, reports from Nyala indicate that over 19,000 individuals are being held in Daqrees and Kober prisons, as well as other locations, under "inhumane" conditions.

The network revealed that among those detained are individuals from various backgrounds, including thousands of civilians, politicians, journalists, and medical personnel. The statement specifically noted that "most of them were arrested in Khartoum and Darfur, including 73 healthcare professionals." The detainee lists also include a significant number of former regular army members.

The statement cautioned that the detention measures exhibit "a lack of humanitarian and legal standards," with detainees being deprived of their fundamental rights. It was confirmed that more than four deaths occur weekly due to medical neglect, and there are warnings about the spread of diseases, particularly cholera, which "threatens the lives of the detainees due to inadequate healthcare," the statement added.

The network urged international organizations to exert pressure on the leadership of the Rapid Support Forces to "secure the release of detainees, provide healthcare, and halt arbitrary arrests."

This warning comes amid a bloody conflict that has persisted since April 2023 between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces, which the United Nations has described as leading to the "worst humanitarian crisis in the world," resulting in the displacement of approximately 12 million people. The "Quartet States" have proposed a ceasefire plan, although renewed fighting has complicated the already precarious humanitarian situation.