Red Cross facilitates handover of 18 detainees in Darfur

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has assisted in the transfer of 13 Sudanese Armed Forces personnel, three police officers and two civilians released by the Sudan Liberation Movement, led by Abdelwahid El Nur (SLM-AW).

Five ICRC international staff accompanied the 18 former detainees on 2 and 3 September when they travelled by helicopter to the South Darfur capital of Nyala, the Red Cross reported in a press release today.

They were handed over to the Sudanese authorities in the South Darfur capital of Nyala. “After the handover, the ICRC team assisted the released individuals in contacting their families, who were very relieved to hear news of them,” said Eloi Fillion, head of the Red Cross delegation in Sudan.

“Playing the role of neutral intermediary between parties to the conflict is an important part of our mandate. The Sudanese government and various armed opposition groups trust the ICRC to play this humanitarian role,” he added.

The Red Cross remains ready to provide support for similar operations in the future. Its regular dialogue with the government authorities and various armed opposition groups enables the organisation to play a unique role as an intermediary, the press release reads.

'SLM-AW spokesman Mustafa Tambour explained to Radio Dabanga that the 18 soldiers were detained between 2008 and 2015. “They were handed over in the SLM-AW controlled area of Sureng in Jebel Marra.”

'Humane treatment'

He added that the detainees have been treated humanely, “as prisoners of war according to international laws”.

In this context, the rebel spokesman pointed to the dire situation of 42 SLM-AW combatants held in prisons in Nyala, El Fasher, Khartoum, and Port Sudan, describing it as a “clear violation of the Geneva Conventions on war prisoners.

“They are all chained. Many of them suffer from health problems because of systematic physical and mental torture by the authorities. 17 of them have been convicted to death, and are awaiting their execution for a long time.”

Tambour called on the international community, in particular the UN Security Council and human rights organisations to to monitor the situation of the rebel prisoners in the country, and pressure the government to release them and hand them over to the ICRC.