Sudanese medics report over 19,000 detained by RSF in Darfur prisons

More than 19,000 individuals are imprisoned by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in Sudan's Darfur region, according to a report from a local medical group. The Sudan Doctors Network stated on Wednesday that the detainees are held in the Dagris and Kober facilities, the largest prisons in South Darfur state, amid an ongoing civil conflict.

Dire Conditions and Civilian Detainees

The network described rapidly deteriorating conditions inside the prisons, citing acute shortages of medicine, clean drinking water, and food, alongside severe overcrowding and poor sanitation. These factors have led to the spread of infectious diseases and a rising death toll. "More than four deaths are recorded weekly due to medical neglect," the group reported, also noting a lack of qualified staff and an inability to transfer critical cases to hospitals. Among the detained are an estimated 5,434 civilians, including 73 medical staff, politicians, and media workers.

Appeal for Action and Conflict Context

The doctors' group called on the United Nations and other international bodies to pressure the RSF to release civilian prisoners and to treat all detainees according to humanitarian and legal standards. The conflict in Sudan, which erupted in April 2023 between the national army and the RSF, has resulted in thousands of deaths and displaced millions. The RSF controls most of the Darfur region in western Sudan, while the army holds the capital, Khartoum, and much of the country's north, east, and center.