“200 detained” in security campaign in Blue Nile

For two consecutive weeks, the security service has carried out a large campaign of detentions in Blue Nile's capital, where people have protested the presence of paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. They accuse them of committing atrocities against the civilians.

An activist in Ed Damazin speaking to Radio Dabanga, on the condition of anonymity, recounted the situation in Ed Damazin. He estimated that the security service (NISS) detained 200 activists from the city in the past two weeks; since fighting sparked in the area of Kilgo.

Last week the control of Kilgo, south of Ed Damazin, was disputed by the Governor of Blue Nile and the rebel SPLM-N in statements they made to the press. Reports of the arrival of reinforcements of the Rapid Support Forces for the Sudanese army reached this station in the same week.

They said that as soon as the militiamen arrived, they encroached on some civilians calling them racist names. They have also allegedly robbed several shops on the outskirts of Ed Damazin over the past few days. Radio Dabanga is attempting to collect more witness reports from the area.

Since then, the NISS has detained a large number of activists. From Khartoum, famous novelist Issam Geisan was detained in Khartoum and transferred to Ed Damazin. The activist speaking to this station did not know the reason for his arrest, however, Geisan was born in Blue Nile.

Safeldin Manalla Mahmoud, a well-known television producer, and well-known Khartoum graduate and engineer Ismail Mohamed Tawokul were detained in Ed Damazin too.

The activist expressed his fear that the dozens of activists, all held in the prison of Ed Damazin, might be subjected to torture at the hands of the NISS. “Especially since the NISS has a track record in the torture of detainees.”