RSF arrest three NUP leaders in West Kordofan

September 9, 2024 (EL-FULA) – Sudan’s National Umma Party (NUP) said on Monday that three of its leaders in West Kordofan state had been arrested by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) three days ago without any reason given.

The party condemned the arrests and called for the immediate release of the detainees. It also criticized the RSF’s targeting of civilians and restriction of their movement.

The RSF is accused of carrying out arrest campaigns targeting civilians in areas under its control, accusing some of them of being loyal to the Sudanese army.

The RSF controls most of West Kordofan, including the state capital El-Fula, while the army maintains a presence in the army base of Babanusa, in addition to the western localities,  including Al-Nahud, Al-Khoei.

The National Umma Party also condemned recent shelling and air strikes by both the RSF and the Sudanese army on civilian areas across the country, calling on both sides to stop targeting civilians and infrastructure.

The RSF has intensified its attacks on civilian areas in recent weeks, while the army has continued its air strikes on RSF-controlled areas.