Nyala, March 12 (Darfur24)
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) released 260 detainees on Tuesday from Daqris prison, west of Nyala, the capital of South Darfur State, marking the first mass release from one of the largest prisons run by the forces in western Sudan.
Informed sources told Darfur24 that all those released were civilians and that their release followed written guarantees and pledges provided by local administrations in their respective areas.
The sources added that the detainees had been transferred about a month ago from Daqris prison to Korea prison inside Nyala city before being released on Tuesday.
According to the sources, the decision to release the detainees came amid severe overcrowding in the prison and deteriorating humanitarian conditions faced by inmates.
One of the released detainees told Darfur24 that prison authorities had informed them of a plan to release about 1,500 civilian detainees in batches during the current month.
In recent months, the RSF has carried out widespread arrests in areas under its control in western Sudan, targeting military personnel, civilians, politicians, activists, and civil servants. Many of those detained were transferred to Daqris prison, where conditions have been described as harsh, while families say they remain unaware of the fate of numerous detainees.