RSF accused of forced recruitment, sparking fear and displacement in Darfur

December 11, 2024  (EL-FASHIR) – The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are forcibly recruiting men in Darfur, including teenagers and displaced people, witnesses and community leaders told Sudan Tribune, sparking fear and prompting families to flee their homes.

In Shangil Tobaya, south of El-Fashir, the RSF detained 40 displaced people from the Shaddad camp and transported them to Nyala in South Darfur for military training, said resident Babikir Osman Hamza. Among those taken were secondary school students who had hoped to travel to Libya or northern Sudan to take their final exams, he said.

The forced recruitment drive follows an October announcement by RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, who pledged to mobilize one million fighters.

Hamza said that RSF officers are pressuring tribal leaders to provide recruits. When leaders in Shangil Tobaya failed to deliver, the RSF resorted to abducting young men, he added.

In Kabkabiya, North Darfur, an RSF commander known as “Al-Savanna” ordered tribal leaders to provide 200 fighters for the conflict in al-Fashir, a community leader told Sudan Tribune on condition of anonymity. He said “Al-Savanna” threatened to forcibly conscript young men if the quota wasn’t met. Many families have fled Kabkabiya to avoid forced recruitment, the leader said.

In Nyala, South Darfur, the RSF is conducting raids to seize young men from public places like internet cafes and markets, said media activist Adam Musa. He described a climate of fear, with many residents considering leaving the city.

Community leaders also accused the RSF of neglecting wounded fighters, leaving families to struggle with medical costs. They called for international intervention to stop the forced recruitment, which they said includes children as young as 16.