El Fasher, October 10 (Darfur24)
The residents of Kabkabiya, 155 km west of El Fasher in North Darfur, say the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have launched a wave of arrests targeting civilians accused of affiliation with, or collaboration with, the Sudanese army.
An eyewitness, who requested anonymity, told Darfur24 that an RSF unit arrested Ismat Issa and three of his relatives from their home in the Southern Market neighborhood and took them to the 21st Brigade detention center in Kabkabiya.
He added that when the families approached the prison administration to request their release, they were asked to pay 2 million Sudanese pounds; however, they ultimately paid 1.2 million pounds.
In a related incident, another source reported that the RSF arrested rickshaw driver Muzamil Musa from the city market and took him to the headquarters of the 21st Infantry Brigade. His family was reportedly asked to pay 1.5 million Sudanese pounds for his release.
The source said the same RSF unit also arrested three other individuals from the market on the orders of the RSF commander in Kabkabiya.
Local sources further confirmed that several civilians were detained in the Airport, Al-Salam, and Southern Market neighborhoods on accusations of communicating with the Sudanese army and the joint force of allied armed movements.
The RSF has controlled the city of Kabkabiya since May 2023, following the withdrawal of the 21st Infantry Brigade of the 6th Infantry Division to its headquarters in El Fasher.