EAST DARFUR – A humanitarian worker has alleged that members of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) detained him in East Darfur State, held him inside a metal shipping container and demanded 32 billion Sudanese pounds for his release before he escaped several hours later.

Saad Mohamed said he was returning from a humanitarian mission when he was arrested after passing through several towns in Darfur.

According to Mohamed, his journey began three weeks earlier when he crossed into Sudan from the Chadian border town of Adré as part of a humanitarian mission. He said he travelled through El Geneina, Zalingei, Nyala and Ed Daein without incident, believing that his humanitarian status and international protections afforded to aid workers would ensure his safety.

He said that after leaving Ed Daein, RSF members stopped his vehicle at a checkpoint, questioned him about his work and accused him of travelling from the border area of Tina to provide information to the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Joint Force, an allegation he denied.

Mohamed said the men confiscated his phone, wallet and personal belongings before taking him to a site referred to as “Civilian Protection,” where he said he was held inside a metal shipping container while restrained with an iron chain. He added that he was later told he would be transferred to Dagrees Prison in Nyala.

He alleged that one of his captors later told him he would only be released if his family paid 32 billion Sudanese pounds.

According to Mohamed, he was allowed to contact his relatives while under guard. He said he initially rejected the demand but later pretended to accept it after seeing an opportunity to escape.

Mohamed said he asked to leave the container briefly, claiming he was exhausted, before fleeing when the guard was distracted. He said he ran through dense acacia woodland for several hours until reaching an area outside RSF-controlled territory.

He said the experience reflected what he described as a collapse of security across Darfur, alleging that roads had become dominated by checkpoints where civilians, traders and humanitarian workers were routinely subjected to extortion.

According to Mohamed, RSF personnel stopped civilian vehicles and commercial trucks without distinction to demand money. He further alleged that the site known as “Civilian Protection” functioned as a detention and extortion facility, where detainees were given the choice of paying money or being transferred to Dagrees Prison.

The RSF has not publicly responded to Mohamed’s allegations, which Sudan Now could not independently verify.

The conflict between the SAF and the RSF, which erupted in April 2023, has severely disrupted humanitarian operations across Sudan. The United Nations and international aid agencies have repeatedly warned that insecurity, attacks on aid workers and restrictions on humanitarian access continue to hamper relief operations, particularly in the Darfur region.