Lawyers group accuses RSF of cash-for-release detainee scheme in South Darfur

Lawyers group accuses RSF of cash-for-release detainee scheme in South Darfur
Lawyers group accuses RSF of cash-for-release detainee scheme in South Darfur - Members of Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on patrol. (Photo: ASHRAF SHAZLY/AFP)
Members of Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on patrol. (Photo: ASHRAF SHAZLY/AFP)

According to the Emergency Lawyers Group, the practice constitutes systematic financial extortion and a blatant exploitation of the families' suffering.

The Emergency Lawyers Group has accused the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of being linked to a practice in which civilian detainees held at Daqribi Prison in Nyala, South Darfur, are released only after families pay ransoms.
According to the group, detainees were picked up from different locations across the country and held for long periods under difficult conditions that fall short of basic humanitarian standards.
In several instances, the group says, families have not gone through formal legal channels to secure release. Instead, they are reportedly approached by intermediaries who demand payment in exchange for arranging releases.

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“The Emergency Lawyers Group is monitoring a pattern of releases of some civilian detainees held in Daqribi Prison in Nyala. Some of these releases are facilitated by individuals contacting families and demanding payment of money in exchange for their release,” the group said in a statement.
According to the group, the practice constitutes systematic financial extortion and a blatant exploitation of the families' suffering.
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“The right to liberty is a fundamental right that may only be restricted through legal procedures that guarantee dignity and judicial safeguards. Therefore, linking release to the payment of a ransom constitutes a serious violation that may amount to human trafficking and detention for illicit gain,” it said.

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The group subsequently called for the immediate and unconditional release of all detainees held at Daqribi Prison, stressing that any release process be placed under international supervision, including the involvement of the International Committee of the Red Cross, to ensure transparency and proper documentation.
“The group holds the Rapid Support Forces fully legally responsible for these violations from the moment of arrest, emphasising that any release, present or future, does not negate the right to accountability nor absolve them of criminal responsibility,” it said.
The group also want families to be informed of the fate of missing persons and guarantees that those released will not face re-arrest or retaliation.
“The continuation of these practices perpetuates extrajudicial detention and undermines the foundations of justice. Ending these violations requires an explicit commitment to human rights principles.

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