Zalingei, March 02 (Darfur24)
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have arrested more than 13 people, including civilians and former police officers, during a security campaign in Zalingei, Central Darfur, according to sources and relatives of detainees.
Hawa Mohamed Ahmed, a relative of one of the detainees, told Darfur24 that the RSF arrested civilians and former policemen and transferred them to the main prison in Zalingei. She said her relative was subjected to torture and ill-treatment before being placed in a combat vehicle, adding that the family has received no further information about his condition.
Another relative who only identified himself as Al-Toumi said police officers Siraj Al-Zubair Al-Umda from Al-Wadi neighborhood, Adam Musa Ali from Karanik neighborhood, and Mustafa Madawi Muhammad from Al-Thawra neighborhood were among those arrested.
He said the officers were detained after refusing to join the Federal Police affiliated with the RSF or sign a pledge not to harm the forces or disclose sensitive information within the city.
A separate source, who requested anonymity, told Darfur24 that about seven civilians were also arrested from their homes on Thursday evening during raids across several neighborhoods. He said they were accused of cooperating with the Sudanese army and the joint force, and of sending drone coordinates allegedly used in recent aerial bombardments.
According to the source, the arresting force used violence during the house raids and transferred detainees to Zalingei prison without allowing family visits until Sunday.
Darfur24 was unable to obtain a full list of detainees or secure a response from the RSF regarding the arrests.
RSF has controlled Zalingei since the Sudanese army withdrew from the city in 2023.