The human rights group Emergency Lawyers said that on January 26, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) intercepted a civilian vehicle traveling from the Um Housh area in Al-Tawisha locality, North Darfur State. The vehicle was carrying 21 civilians from a single family, including eight women and seven children.
In a statement, the group said it had documented that the forces stopped the vehicle in the Um Badr area of North Kordofan State before transferring all passengers to Nyala, the capital of South Darfur State.
The statement added that after four days of detention, the forces released the eight women and six children, while continuing to hold seven other individuals, including one child, who were transferred to Dagrees Prison in Nyala.
The rights group further stated: “We have documented that two of the detainees were suffering from serious health conditions prior to their arrest, raising grave concerns about their wellbeing amid their continued detention.”
The statement continued: “We condemn the arbitrary detention of civilians and call for the immediate and unconditional release of all detainees. We also demand guarantees for their physical and psychological safety, access to necessary medical care, and the ability to communicate with their families.”
The group added: “We call for protection measures for the women who have been released and for assurances that they will not be subjected to any form of targeting or abuse, in accordance with international humanitarian law and international human rights law.”
