Khartoum – Sudan Now
The detention of two officials from a Sudanese humanitarian organization has sparked debate over allegations of links to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), as relatives and supporters reject the accusations and call for the case to be brought before a court.
Security authorities in the city of Atbara arrested Ayoub Arabi, director of Tabashir Relief and Development Organization, and the organization’s finance director, Samar Suleiman, after separate complaints were filed accusing them of cooperating with the RSF.
According to relatives, Arabi has been held for nearly two months, while Suleiman has remained in detention for about eight months.
The case comes amid heightened scrutiny of humanitarian activities in Sudan since the outbreak of war in April 2023, with aid workers and relief organizations facing growing challenges while operating in areas affected by conflict and displacement.
Speaking to Sudan Now, Sarah Sabi, a relative of Arabi, rejected the allegations and said the organization had no links to the RSF.
She said Arabi had been working in El Fasher and later moved to Tawila before the city fell, adding that he had been targeted by the RSF because of the humanitarian assistance he provided to civilians during the siege of the North Darfur capital.
According to Sabi, Arabi traveled from Chad to Port Sudan in an effort to secure the release of Suleiman, only to discover that a complaint had been filed against him by authorities in Atbara. She said he voluntarily surrendered himself and has since remained in detention.
She also said a legal defense team had been appointed and called on authorities to transfer the case to court without further delay.
Tabashir Relief and Development Organization has been active in North Darfur for years, providing humanitarian assistance to displaced people in Zamzam and Abu Shouk camps before the war. The organization also worked with U.N. agencies, including UNICEF, to deliver aid in El Fasher during the conflict.
Humanitarian operations in El Fasher have faced severe challenges as fighting intensified around the city, which endured months of siege and repeated attacks that disrupted relief efforts and limited access to assistance for civilians.
Authorities have not publicly commented on the allegations against the two officials, and Sudan Now was unable to independently verify the claims made by either side.
