RSF detains dozens fleeing Sudan’s El Fasher on spying charges, sources say

October 13, 2025 (EL FASHER) – Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have arrested dozens of civilians fleeing the city of El Fasher in North Darfur, accusing them of spying for the Sudanese army, local sources and relatives said on Monday.

The arrests come as civilians continue to flee El Fasher amid ongoing RSF shelling of displacement centres in the Al-Daraja neighbourhood, one of the city’s most crowded areas following house raids elsewhere.

Local sources and relatives of the detainees told Sudan Tribune that the RSF arrested about 70 civilians in the nearby town of Dar es Salaam, south of El Fasher. They said most of those detained were displaced people accused of collaborating with the army.

“The RSF carried out a large-scale arrest campaign on Sunday and Monday… targeting dozens of civilians, most of whom were young men fleeing from El Fasher,” one relative said. He added that a number of them were transferred to Nyala, the capital of South Darfur.

He also stated that some families had received calls from RSF soldiers demanding a ransom of about 15 million Sudanese pounds for the release of their relatives.

The RSF could not immediately be reached for comment.

Since August, the RSF has made significant advances in El Fasher, taking control of residential neighbourhoods and the Abu Shouk camp. The paramilitary group, which controls all roads leading in and out of the city, has been accused of firing on fleeing civilians and its members have reportedly committed widespread sexual violence against women and girls.