Nyala, July 14 (Darfur24)
The arrest of two doctors in Nyala, South Darfur, has forced the closure of a major medical clinic after staff launched an open-ended strike in protest against their detention by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Medical sources told Darfur24 on Monday that RSF personnel arrested Dr. Ibrahim Tawil, director of Manaa Medical Clinic, and Dr. Mutaz Omar late last week. The arrests reportedly followed the issuance of a medical referral for a critically ill patient to travel to army-controlled areas in central and northern Sudan.
According to the sources, the patient was the wife of a former RSF member who had defected. They said Nyala Teaching Hospital initially declined to issue the referral before Manaa Medical Clinic facilitated the required documents.
The two doctors were later arrested by RSF intelligence officers, the sources said.
Medical staff at Manaa Clinic have been on strike for three consecutive days, demanding the doctors’ release. The protest has suspended all services at the facility.
Clinic staff said the detained doctors specialize in obstetrics and gynecology and general surgery. They warned that the work stoppage has disrupted scheduled treatments and left many patients without care.
Local sources said the clinic’s closure has increased pressure on Nyala’s already limited healthcare services.
The RSF maintains restrictions on civilian travel from areas under its control to territories held by the Sudanese army. Local sources said the force has previously prevented civilians from traveling to central and northern Sudan.