October 4, El Daein — On Tuesday, the Rapid Support Forces arrested 34 employees of the Zakat Office in East Darfur State. The arrest come two days after the decision of the governor, appointed by the Sudanese army, to freeze government activity and close institutions in East Darfur, following the announcement of the RSF to establish a parallel civil administration in the state.
A source in the Zakat Office, who requested anonymity, told Darfur24 that the RSF arrested the employees during a meeting on Tuesday at the Zakat offices in El Daein and transferred them to the headquarters east of the city. The arrests included the Secretary of the Office in the state and the secretaries of the localities, in addition to the financial managers and bank managers.
Allegedly the arrest campaign came after the state general auditor issued his report last month, which showed financial transgressions in 660 sacks of corn, without financial approval. The auditor general had delivered a copy of the report to the state governor and the director general of the Ministry of Finance, in addition to the commander of the RSF in the state.
The technical committee assigned by the RSF had announced in the past weeks the formation of a civil administration in East Darfur State.