RSF to initiate release of 451 Sudan POWs

The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) announced they initiated procedures in releasing 451 Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) prisoners yesterday, signifying a notable de-escalatory gesture amid the enduring conflict between the two sides.

The RSF’s action aligns with a stipulation outlined in the Addis Ababa Declaration, signed by Sudan’s former Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, now chair of the Civil Democratic Forces alliance (Tagaddum) and RSF Commander Mohamed ‘Hemeti’ Dagalo in January.

According to the RSF’s legal advisor Mohamed El Mukhtar, the impending release will unfold in the ensuing days upon the completion of administrative formalities involving the RSF Field Command, Tagaddum, and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

Dabanga’s monitoring since the outbreak of hostilities on April 15 observed a series of sporadic releases by the RSF across Khartoum, Nyala, El Geneina, and El Gezira, which have been documented by the ICRC and the families of those released.

Most notable of which, was the release of 100 prisoners during Eid El Adha, followed by subsequent batches in July, August, October, and December.

El Mukhtar states that while the number of detainees and prisoners of war being released “significantly outpaces the army”, their actions are not contingent on reciprocation. He went on to cite a history of unreciprocated goodwill, lamenting that the SAF’s ill-treatment of captives is well-established, accusing them of extrajudicial killings.

Military expert Khaled Abdallah states that the imbalance in prisoner releases reflects the asymmetry of military operations, with the RSF often capturing more soldiers due to its offensive posture.

Doubts linger over the implementation of the Addis Ababa declaration, with concerns raised regarding the ICRC’s role in facilitating detainee releases. Adnan Hizam, the ICRC’s spokesperson, affirmed readiness to mediate in such operations, contingent upon security guarantees.

In today’s exclusive Dabanga interview with the former Sudan PM, Hamdok expressed his frustration over the logistical hurdles impeding the Addis Ababa declaration’s execution. He underscored the indispensability of a neutral mediator, citing the Red Cross’s erstwhile role in similar processes.

When asked if the RSF implemented the terms stipulated in the declaration, Hamdok told Dabanga journalist Ashraf Abdelaziz that the militia “reaffirmed their commitment to implement the practical measures of the agreement, including the release of 451 prisoners of war.

“Practically, however, the prisoners’ release is hindered by the absence of the ICRC in Sudan. “We’ve stressed to the RSF the imperative of honouring the Addis Declaration to prevent it from becoming mere rhetoric.”