Sudanese authorities have detained around 4,000 people suspected of aiding the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the central Gezira State.
The announcement came from Governor Al-Tahir Ibrahim, who confirmed the arrests followed widespread security operations in different parts of the region.
Those taken into custody were accused of helping the RSF by providing supplies and participating in activities aimed at destabilizing the area. Some suspects reportedly admitted their involvement during interrogations. The governor said the state would continue to act firmly against anyone seen as a threat to local safety and security.
The arrests come in the middle of a brutal conflict that erupted in April 2023 between Sudan’s national army and the RSF. The fighting began as a power struggle between two top generals — Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, who leads the RSF, and General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, the head of the Sudanese Armed Forces and the country’s de facto leader.
This internal war has devastated Sudan. The United Nations estimates over 20,000 people have died and about 15 million have been forced to flee their homes, both inside and outside the country. However, independent research suggests the true death toll could be much higher, possibly around 130,000.
Sudan’s humanitarian crisis is worsening, with limited access to food, medical aid, and shelter for millions caught in the conflict. As fighting continues and arrests like these increase, the path toward peace and stability remains unclear. The international community has called for a ceasefire and dialogue, but efforts to mediate have so far made little progress.
The latest crackdown in Gezira reflects growing efforts by Sudan’s military leaders to weaken the RSF’s influence and cut off support networks that could prolong the conflict. For residents of affected states, the war has brought daily fear, displacement, and a desperate search for safety.