Families of detained female activists in Nyala, the capital of South Darfur State, said on Saturday that they had lost contact with them after they were transferred from the Korea Prison detention facility south of the city to an unknown location.
Intelligence units affiliated with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) had earlier detained a number of female activists following their participation in a workshop on women’s rights. According to their families, they were initially transferred from the Popular Market detention facility to Korea Prison before being moved later to an undisclosed location.
Among the detainees are broadcaster Ishraqa Abdelrahman, Dr. Manahil Mustafa Al-Senousi, director of the Al-Manhal Center for Training and Capacity Building, radio presenter Zahra Mohamed Al-Hassan, and Mawahib Ibrahim, while the arrest of activist Izdihar Abdelmonem Hamed has not yet been confirmed.
Al-Hassan Ibrahim, a relative of one of the detainees, told Darfur24 that the women’s fate became unknown after they were moved from the Popular Market detention site south of the city to Korea Prison, where their families had briefly been reassured about their condition, before being surprised on Thursday by their transfer to an unknown location.
He said communication with them had been cut off and their whereabouts remain unknown. According to inquiries made by the families, the RSF stated that the detainees were being questioned regarding some of their recent activities in Nyala.
A relative of detainee Mawahib Ibrahim told Darfur24 that a military force in civilian clothing had taken her from her home in the Al-Sad Al-Ali neighborhood two Thursdays ago without providing any justification and transferred her to the Popular Market detention facility.
The family was later able to contact her after she was moved from the Popular Market detention site to Korea Prison, but contact has been lost for the past three days and her fate remains unknown.
Noon Kashkoush, a member of the Emergency Lawyers Group, called for the immediate release of the detainees and guarantees for their protection, in addition to launching solidarity campaigns on their behalf.
Speaking to Darfur24, Kashkoush said the city of Nyala—currently under the control of the Tasis government, one of the parties to the war—has seen shrinking space for opinion and freedom of expression. She also noted the existence of detention centers holding more than 600 female detainees, where, according to her, various forms of abuse and gender-based violence are being committed.
According to one participant in the workshop, the event was organized by the initiatives “Women Journalists for Peace” and “Natakallam”, with the participation of 25 people. The workshop discussed women’s rights in national laws and international conventions, particularly UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace, and security.
