Nyala, July 18 (Darfur24)
Relatives and eyewitnesses say the health of two men detained by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Nyala, South Darfur, has deteriorated after nearly two months in custody without trial or formal legal proceedings.
The RSF arrested Omda Othman Ezz El-Din, leader of the Awlad Saadan clan of the Habbaniya tribe in Buram locality, and popular singer Al-Ghali Salah El-Din Al-Habib in May before transferring them to detention facilities in Nyala.
A relative of Othman Ezz El-Din told Darfur24 that he was accused of collaborating with the Sudanese army and belonging to the former ruling National Congress Party. He is being held at the former National Intelligence headquarters west of the livestock market.
The relative said local community leaders tried to secure his release but were told they needed authorization from RSF Deputy Commander Abdul Rahim Hamdan Dagalo.
He added that the detainee’s health has deteriorated because he has not received medical care and that his family has been barred from visiting him.
Ahmed Hassan Ahmed, a community leader from Buram, said Al-Ghali Salah El-Din Al-Habib has been held in Daqris prison, west of Nyala, for months without being brought to trial.
He said the elderly singer, who is over 60, requires medical treatment and called on the RSF to allow family visits and either charge him formally or release him.
Ahmed added that mediation efforts by local leaders have failed to secure his release.
The RSF maintains tight security around Daqris prison in Al-Salam locality, where relatives often need mediation by community leaders or RSF officers to visit detainees.
Darfur24 has previously documented deaths of detainees inside Daqris prison. Families said they learned of the deaths only after former detainees were released.
There are no official figures on the number of detainees held at the prison. However, former detainees told Darfur24 that it holds thousands of people from Darfur, Kordofan, Khartoum, Al Jazirah, and Sennar states.