Rapid Support Forces Arrest Dozens of Civilians in South Darfur

Four independent sources from the town of Katila, located approximately 130 kilometers southwest of Nyala in South Darfur, reported that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia launched an arrest campaign targeting civilians and military personnel following a drone attack on Monday. The attack reportedly killed more than 80 people and injured over 100 others, including the head of the Civil Administration, Youssef Idris Youssef.

A relative of one of the detainees, who requested anonymity for Darfur24, said that an RSF unit, with support from some local elements, arrested several civilians and military personnel immediately after the incident and transferred them to the town of Tulus, southeast of Katila.

Around 40 individuals were detained on charges of collaborating with the Sudanese army and providing coordinates for the drone that targeted a gathering arranged to welcome the head of the Civil Administration and his government members, according to the source.

Another source told Darfur24 that the detainees included native administration leaders, police officers, and others, including: Mudar Ahmed Al-Zein (Federal Police), Al-Omda Mohammed Abdel-Nabi Adam, Al-Omda Hassan Al-Tom Adam, Nour El-Din Khamis (Customs Administration), Police personnel Fawzi Abdel-Rahman Adam, as well as civilians Ayoub Al-Doum Mohamed, Moaz Ishaq Mohamed Adam, and Jabr El-Din Abdel-Rahman Adam.

The source added that RSF forces confiscated all Starlink devices from the market and neighborhoods and conducted thorough searches of homes to seize personal devices, including civilians’ mobile phones within the town.

It is noteworthy that the head of the so-called Civil Administration affiliated with the RSF militia in South Darfur began an inspection tour last Thursday of the southern localities of South Darfur, starting with Al-Salam and Gureida, passing through the localities of Al-Sunta, Buram, and Al-Radum, before moving today from Tulus to Katila, where he arrived in the afternoon. The incident occurred prior to the start of the official visit ceremonies.