Legal group says RSF extorting families for release of detainees

April 25, 2026 (NYALA) – The Emergency Lawyers legal group on Saturday criticized the release of civilian detainees from Dagrees prison in Nyala, South Darfur, in exchange for cash payments, describing the practice as a pattern of extortion against families.

The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) established Nyala as the capital of its parallel government several months ago, a move that has faced widespread regional and international rejection.

Vast areas of Darfur have seen a surge in arbitrary arrests and enforced disappearances since the conflict began in April 2023. Human rights reports indicate that civilians are held in deteriorating conditions with limited legal oversight or humanitarian access.

The Dagrees prison, located 25 kilometres west of Nyala, has become a site of widespread abuses where the RSF is accused of carrying out severe mistreatment against detainees.

The legal group said in a statement that some detainees were allowed to contact their relatives to request ransom money for their release. The victims were reportedly arrested in areas currently or previously under RSF control.

Detainees have spent long periods in harsh conditions that lack minimum humanitarian standards, which the group said constitutes a grave violation of international human rights and humanitarian law.

The group warned that linking release to financial payment may amount to human trafficking and profiteering. It held the RSF legally responsible for these violations, noting that the release of individuals does not waive the right to future accountability.

The Emergency Lawyers called for the immediate and unconditional release of all detainees under the supervision of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), alongside independent international monitoring to ensure transparency.