SalaaMedia report
Civilians in Darfur region have been exposed to violations by the parties to the war under the pretext of cooperation with any of the warring parties. It is accompanied by a clear violation of freedoms, such as detentions, deprivation of communications services and restriction of movement within the region and out.
Arrests
In August this year, SalaaMedia published a report about arrested civilians since the outbreak of war in Sudan last year. The report indicated that the total number of arrested civilians exceeded (270), though it didn’t end there. Recently, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in East Darfur arrested 17 employees of the Zakat Office; four civilians from their farms in Shaq Hassan area, 35 kilometers north of El Daein town; a famous businessman in town; and four other civilians from Abu Karinka market.
Meanwhile, detentions by RSF in South Darfur continued, with arresting a civilian at their Headquarters in Nyala town, who reported after his release, that he left 18 others under arrest. They also arrested a humanitarian work volunteer. Eyewitnesses from Nyala told Darfur 24 that a number of detainees have been deported to Nyala.
North Darfur wasn’t an exceptional compared to the rest of the states. In Al Fashir, four civilians were arrested by RSF and 12 others by Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) Intelligence. According to Sudan Tribune, 13 people were arrested by RSF from the west and east areas of Al Fashir. However, things got worse in Kabkabiya locality, where one among three detainees died inside at RSF detention center, while they continued to arrests more than 20 young civilians. Atrocities continued when bodies of two arrested brothers – by RSF – were found in Mileet town, in addition to detaining 20 young men in Kutum locality. Forces carrying out arrests vary, as the pro-SAF Joint Force arrested at least 20 people in Kulbus, West Darfur State.
Blocked Roads
People in Darfur have been facing movement difficulties for quite some time, due to the spread of armed looting and checkpoints along several roads linking towns to villages. There have been repeated incidents of armed robberies along Nyala- Baram road, prompted RSF to issue orders to close the road. SalaaMedia received information, that roadblocks and checkpoints along Nyala- Kass road varies between 10 and 40 points. Mohamed Ahmed Al-Zein, head of the Civil Administration in South Darfur, told SalaaMedia that, he ordered the removal of these checkpoints, which has been confirmed by travelers on the road, that only four were maintained. In the same context, insecurity led to the closure of the road between Korma, Tawila and Kutum in North Darfur. Due to clashes in Al Fashir, residents were left with only five paths leading out of the town.
Some local traders have complained about the number of checkpoints along Al-Tineh- Kabkabiya road, where they pay 50,000 Sudanese Pounds at each checkpoint, in addition to paying two million pounds to RSF against each truck.
Telecommunication
Immediately after war eruption in April last year, all communications networks went out of service and the residents in Darfur have been deprived communicating with their relatives, during battles intensifying resulting to killing and injury of thousands of civilians. A few months after later, satellite internet services (Star-link) was introduced for the first time in the region to meet the need for communications as well accessing mobile bank transfers via banking applications after banking services were suspended, forcing civilians to resorted to barter sales system. Now, internet services have also become a source of harassment, as civilians are monitored and arrested from Star-link sites on charges of intelligence and cooperation. Accordingly, the owners of satellite internet sites continued to receive orders from the warring pushing them to shut down. The owners of satellite internet sites in Al Fashir said, SAF Intelligence ordered them in May and October 2024 to close their sites without any justifications. Early on October this year, RSF informed IDPs of Kassab camp in Kutum locality of North Darfur that satellite internet services in the camp is banned permanently.
There are many forms and aspects of violations committed against civilians in Darfur, starting with arrests, closing routes leading to safety, and ending with cutting off means of communication. The accusation of intelligence has become an excuse for each party to arrest civilians. Those in areas under SAF control and their allied Joint Forces are accused of spying for the benefit of RSF, and the same happens in the areas under RSF control. Ultimately, civilians are the victims on both sides, as many of them die in the detention centers. The harsh conditions of the war forced many to seek safety but in vain. They face closed roads while scaping clashes, and are subjected to looting and ransoms, making it difficult to reach safe areas; and as well communications disruption and shutting dawn satellite internet sites, which is the only mean Darfur people use to communicate.
All of these violations amounted to making the life of people in Darfur hell on earth, because the continuation of violations will eventually lead to more suffering and death of civilians. Therefore, we once again renew our call to the international community to push for stopping these violations in a way that preserves the lives of civilians.