RSF releases North Darfur health minister, 25 medical staff

November 18, 2025 (EL FASHER) – The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on Tuesday released Dr Khadija Musa, the Health Minister for North Darfur State, along with around 25 medical cadres and healthcare workers, after weeks of detention.

Since the RSF took control of El Fasher on October 26, it has arrested three ministers in the state government, killed Abbas Adam, the Commissioner of Humanitarian Aid, along with a number of his family members, while they were attempting to flee the city.

A source at the North Darfur State Ministry of Health told “Sudan Tribune” that “the Support Forces today released the Health Minister, Dr Khadija Musa, and 25 cadres from the Ministry of Health, staff from El Fasher hospitals.”

The source indicated that those released were detained among thousands of civilians at the Children’s Hospital east of El Fasher. The source further stated that the step to release them came after the medical teams pledged to help address the worsening health crisis, especially with the unprecedented spread of the cholera epidemic inside displacement shelters, 16 detention centres holding thousands of civilians.

The RSF is still holding the Minister of Youth and Sports, Mohamed Suleiman Gibril, a leader in the Sudan Liberation Movement led by Minni Arko Minnawi, as well as the Minister of Environment, Al-Tayeb Baraka, a leader in the Justice and Equality Movement led by Gibril Ibrahim. They have been transferred to Nyala city in South Darfur State.