Nairobi, January 26 (Darfur24)
Dozens of civilians, including high school students, were detained by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) while traveling from Darfur states toward White Nile State, with many transferred to a prison in Al-Fula city, West Kordofan, sources said.
A father of one of the students told Darfur24 that eight people from East Darfur, including two of his sons, were arrested while on their way to sit for the Sudanese Secondary School Certificate examinations scheduled for April.
The students had attempted to bypass conflict zones by traveling through the Al-Naam border area with South Sudan, but were intercepted in South Kordofan and detained in Al-Fula prison.
One woman traveling with her daughters recounted that the RSF stopped them on the Al-Mujlad–Al-Naam road, detaining them for over six hours before releasing her and her daughters. Male students traveling with them, however, were taken to an unknown location.
According to the families, at least 14 students from Nyala, Al-Daein, and Al-Mujlad remain unaccounted for following their detention at the beginning of January. Families have appealed to the RSF high command to allow the students to continue their education and reach the exam centers.
The Sudanese Ministry of Education announced that the national certificate exams will begin on April 13, 2026, in safe states under army control. Thousands of students from western states face obstacles reaching these centers, as the RSF restricts civilian movement, conducts forced detentions, and, in some cases, releases detainees in exchange for fines.
The situation underscores the challenges faced by students in conflict-affected areas, where security concerns, restricted mobility, and armed group interventions continue to disrupt access to education.