El Fasher, April 19(Darfur 24)
The Sudanese army, the joint force, anf members of the popular resistance, prevented a number of residents in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur State, from leaving the city, under the pretext of ensuring their safety amid the deteriorating security situation.
Eyewitnesses and local sources told Darfur 24 on Saturday that forces prohibited citizens from leaving the city towards the town of Tawila.
They indicated that the ban was intended to protect them from possible abuses by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
One witness, who preferred to remain anonymous, said that an armed force stopped him as he was leaving the city with his family of six. He was asked to return to El Fasher until “the situation becomes clearer,” claiming it was better for his safety.
He explained that the situation in the city had become unbearable due to the intense artillery shelling by the Rapid Support Forces, in addition to the severe shortages of food, medicine, and drinking water. He emphasized the children’s need for safety and stability.
Another eyewitness told Darfur 24 that the justifications for preventing them from leaving seemed unconvincing, especially in light of the ongoing siege and the lack of the most basic necessities of life, including security, food, water, and shelter.
In the same context, Abu Shouk camp witnessed The displaced people in El Fasher have been subjected to a campaign of arrests targeting dozens of displaced leaders and activists, according to Adam Rijal, the official spokesperson for the General Coordination for Displaced Persons and Refugees.
Rijal told Darfur 24 that the arrests were carried out on April 17 by army intelligence and members of the joint forces affiliated with movements that signed the Juba Peace Agreement. They were accused of inciting the displaced to leave the camp and cooperating with the Rapid Support Forces.
Rijal described these accusations as “false” and aimed at “suppressing and restricting the displaced,” stressing that the detainees are innocent and have not committed any violations of the law.
He pointed out that Abu Shouk camp has been subjected to heavy artillery shelling by the Rapid Support Forces since May 2024, resulting in hundreds of deaths and injuries, along with widespread destruction of infrastructure. He also noted that the army launched airstrikes on the camp last January.
He accused the army and joint forces of using the displaced as human shields by imposing a security cordon on the camp and preventing residents from leaving, exacerbating their suffering amid dire humanitarian conditions, including famine, water shortages, and rising prices of basic commodities.
He held the army and joint forces fully responsible for the safety of the detainees, demanding their immediate release and an end to the use of civilians as human shields. He also called on the Rapid Support Forces to cease shelling the camps.
Abu Shouk camp, home to approximately 190,000 displaced people, has been in a state of famine since last December, likely to continue until next May. The camp, along with four other areas, includes Zamzam camp, located about 12 kilometers from El Fasher.