RSF, ex-rebels arrest more displaced in North Darfur

A number of people have been detained by militiamen in Sortony camp in Kabkabiya in North Darfur. This is the second incident this month involving the militiamen and displaced people.

Witnesses reported to Radio Dabanga that members of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and militiamen led by former rebel El Sadig El Fakka detained seven camp residents this week.

The men entered Sortony driving five vehicles and seized seven persons from their residences. According to a source, they have been taken to the forces’ camp in Kobe, one kilometre away from Sortony camp.

El Fatih Ishag, Eisa Bashar, Abdelrazig Saleh, Mousa Karigat, and Abdelrazig Yousef were among those detained this week.

The number of detainees adds to the earlier reported 21 other displaced people who have been detained by the militiamen for weeks. Last week a community sheikh reported that on August 12, a joint force of militiamen of the RSF and El Sadig Fakka group stormed the camp and detained 18 displaced people accused of being affiliated with the Sudan Liberation Movement under the leadership of Abdelwahid El Nur (SLM-AW).

On September 18, basic school teacher and head of the Youth Association in the camp, Abdallah Bundug, and teacher and deputy head Jamal Nimir, along with a third camp resident were detained as well.

In Sudan, RSF and Military Intelligence members are known to detain people who are accused of having connections with rebel movements.

Jebel Marra

El Fakka’s group consists of a number of rebel combatants who recently split from the SLM-AW. The movement recently announced an unilateral three-month ceasefire in a certain part of Jebel Marra, to allow for aid assistance. According to UN humanitarian coordinators, “the Government of Sudan and Sudan Liberation Movement led by Abdel Wahid [El Nur] are facilitating access to the affected area”.

Sortony, adjacent to the base of the United Nations-African Union peacekeeping Mission in Darfur (Unamid), is a site where people displaced from the mountainous Jebel Marra in Darfur in early 2016 have sought refuge. Increased hostilities between the Sudanese army, assisted by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the Sudan Liberation Movement under the leadership of Abdelwahid El Nur have forced tens of thousands of people to flee their homes to other areas in Darfur, including Sortony.

According to the UN, the number of displaced living in Sortony decreased to 21,500 people who are registered and currently reside at the site.