Dagaris Graveyard: When a Detention Facility Turns into a ‘Death Cell’ Without Statistics

Several deaths have been reported inside Dagaris Prison in South Darfur State, one of the largest detention facilities operated by the rebel Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia in areas under its control.

The militia imposes strict security measures on the prison, located in Al-Salam locality, restricting family visits to detainees except through community mediation or intervention by RSF officers.

Local sources and families said on Monday that Ezz El-Din Mohamed Adam Al-Hassan, known as “Al-Dish,” Adam Ali Osman, and Tajani Abu Bakr Al-Mahdi died inside the facility.

Ezz El-Din’s family told Darfur24 that he died due to a deterioration in his health caused by complications from diabetes. They said they received news of his death—after more than two years in detention—from RSF authorities. They also reported that his sister, Nimat Mohamed Adam Al-Hassan, died from shock after learning of her brother’s death.

The family stated that the deceased had been detained following the RSF’s takeover of Nyala, later released, and subsequently re-arrested, before dying in custody.

Multiple sources told Darfur24 that several deaths have occurred inside Dagaris Prison at different intervals over the past three months. They noted that some of the deceased were from Rehaid Al-Birdi locality, including Adam Ali Osman and Tajani Abu Bakr Al-Mahdi.

Darfur24 had previously documented the deaths of several detainees held in Dagaris Prison, with families stating they were informed of the deaths by detainees who had been released.

No accurate statistics are available on the number of detainees in the prison. However, former detainees told Darfur24 that the facility holds between 10,000 and 12,000 detainees, including prisoners captured in military engagements from Darfur, Kordofan, Khartoum, Al-Gezira, and Sennar states.