Sudan's RSF accused of holding over 100 families in dire conditions

Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are allegedly holding more than 100 Sudanese families in "extremely dangerous" conditions in the West Kordofan region, according to a Friday statement from the Sudan Doctors Network. The group, detained from the town of Babnousa and surrounding villages, reportedly includes women, children, and pregnant women, with some facing beatings and humiliation by their captors.

Allegations of Abuse and Legal Violations

The medical network stated that video evidence reviewed by its teams shows women being assaulted after RSF fighters accused their relatives of affiliation with the Sudanese army. The network condemned the detentions as a severe breach of international humanitarian law and a factor worsening the regional humanitarian catastrophe. It explicitly rejected using civilians, especially women and children, as leverage against their families.

Conflicting Claims Over Strategic Town

These grave allegations emerge from the strategically vital but contested town of Babnousa, where control remains opaque after months of siege and combat. While the RSF announced it captured the town earlier this week, the Sudanese army claims it repelled a fresh attack. Local reports suggest army units may have withdrawn toward Heglig. The RSF has besieged the area since January 2024, leading to the near-total depopulation of the city and the displacement of approximately 177,000 people.

Calls for Action and Broader Conflict Toll

The Sudan Doctors Network called on the international community and UN agencies to impose sanctions on those responsible and secure the immediate release of the detainees. This incident is a flashpoint in the wider conflict between the Sudanese army and the RSF, which began in April 2023. The war has killed at least 40,000 people and displaced around 12 million, creating one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises.