Sudan doctors report mysterious death of surgeon in Ed Daein
November 15, 2025 (ED DAEIN) – The Sudan Doctors Network revealed on Saturday the death of general surgery specialist Youssef Ibrahim Zakaria under mysterious circumstances within the city of Ed Daein, East Darfur state.
On March 21, gunmen kidnapped an internal medicine specialist in Ed Daein, which is under the control of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), coinciding with the expansion of enforced disappearances in the city. He was released a month later due to pressure from his colleagues and actions by community leaders.
The network said in a statement that “the general surgery specialist at Ed Daein Hospital, Dr Youssef Ibrahim Zakaria, died under mysterious circumstances inside the city.”
It called for an independent and transparent investigation to uncover the circumstances of the death. It also urged international and human rights organizations to monitor the health situation in these areas and to press for the prevention of any form of intimidation or targeting of medical sector workers.
The statement described the death of Dr. Youssef Ibrahim under mysterious circumstances within the city as an incident that “reflects the magnitude of the risks facing health sector workers in areas experiencing lawlessness.”
The phenomena of kidnapping for ransom and killings to settle old tribal disputes are widespread in areas under RSF control, amid impunity and the collapse of state institutions in Darfur.
The network explained that the deceased had returned to his work at Ed Daein Hospital to serve the city’s residents, despite having been previously arrested and beaten by an RSF member a year ago.
It stated that his death represents a “severe blow to the health system” and “raises legitimate questions about the safety of doctors and workers in an environment lacking the most basic standards of protection.”
The network renewed its urgent call to provide effective mechanisms to protect doctors and health workers, and to ensure they are not subjected to arrest, violence, or extortion while performing their humanitarian duty.
The Preliminary Committee of the Sudan Doctors Syndicate reported last week that 94 health workers, including doctors, pharmacists, nurses, and medical students, have been killed since the conflict broke out on April 15, 2023.