RAPID SUPPORT FORCES CLAIM RESCUE OF CIVILIANS IN NORTH DARFUR OPERATION.
BY NJOKI KARANJA.
Khartoum, Sudan – The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have announced the successful liberation of dozens of civilians, primarily women and children, from detention in North Darfur’s Malha region. The RSF claims the civilians were held in dire conditions by armed mercenary groups.
In a statement issued Thursday, the RSF said its forces freed detainees from secret prisons, or so-called "ghost houses," allegedly used by the mercenary movements to detain and torture opponents. Some former detainees reportedly described harrowing experiences, including accounts of torture and deaths within the facilities. The RSF has called on international human rights organizations to investigate these alleged crimes.
Humanitarian Concerns and Political Implications
The RSF framed the operation as part of its broader campaign to "eliminate mercenary movements" and groups linked to the Islamic Movement’s military wing. It also accused its adversaries of violating international humanitarian law.
The statement further reaffirmed the RSF’s commitment to protecting civilians and ensuring national security, while also renewing calls to “liberate” the country from what it referred to as the “racist Port Sudan gang.”
Call for International Scrutiny
The RSF urged human rights organizations to probe alleged atrocities committed by armed factions against civilians. However, independent verification of these claims remains difficult amid the ongoing conflict in Sudan.
The situation in Sudan remains volatile, with various armed groups engaged in clashes for control of key regions. The RSF, which has been locked in a protracted power struggle with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), continues to assert its role in shaping the country’s future.
Observers warn that the escalating violence and competing narratives from warring factions could further destabilize Sudan, raising concerns about the safety of civilians caught in the conflict.
