Release of Dozens of Prisoners After Paying Millions of Pounds to Militia

Elements of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia have released dozens of army personnel who were detained during their takeover of the 22nd Infantry Division headquarters in the town of Babanusa, West Kordofan, in early December.

A local administration in East Darfur told Darfur24 on Monday that dozens of released prisoners have returned to their families across the localities of East Darfur, as well as to cities in West Kordofan.

A local official said the release followed negotiations and settlements between RSF members and native administrations, resulting in the freeing of more than 150 soldiers, some of whom reached the towns of Adila and Abu Jabra in East Darfur, in addition to Al‑Nuhud, Al‑Tubon, Al‑Gantour, Al‑Audya, and Al‑Mujallad in West Kordofan.

According to consistent sources, most of the soldiers were released following financial settlements ranging between 2 and 4 million Sudanese pounds, which were arranged through contact with the prisoners’ families and paid after the release.

The sources indicated that these settlements were conducted individually with RSF members and were not processed through the official RSF institution.

The RSF militia took control of the 22nd Infantry Division in Babanusa in early December after fierce fighting, while the army withdrew to Heglig, with many soldiers and officers captured.