RSF Detains Prominent Sudanese Journalist in War-Torn El-Fasher
Sudanese journalist Muammar Ibrahim, known for his courageous reporting from the besieged city of el-Fasher, has been detained by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) amid their latest military offensive in North Darfur.
His detention on Sunday evening — just hours after the RSF declared control over the city — has sparked international concern over his safety and renewed calls for the protection of journalists working in conflict zones.
Witness to Sudan’s Humanitarian Crisis
For nearly two years, Ibrahim documented the suffering of civilians trapped in el-Fasher, one of the last strongholds of the Sudanese army in Darfur. Through social media and international outlets such as Al Jazeera Mubasher, he offered rare, firsthand accounts of hunger, displacement, and bombardment inside the city.
His final post on X (formerly Twitter) before being detained read:
“#El-Fasher, may God keep its people… pray for us.”
That short message now reads as a chilling prelude to his disappearance.
Videos Show Ibrahim Surrounded by RSF Fighters
Videos circulated on social media on Sunday night show Ibrahim surrounded by armed RSF fighters, some masked, as he identifies himself as a journalist with “no allegiance to either side.”
In one clip, the journalist appears calm but visibly distressed while stating that he was detained while attempting to leave el-Fasher. In another, RSF members taunt him, urging him to claim he is being treated well. One fighter mockingly says:
“You’ve been eating ambaaz [animal feed], now you’ll get a meal with meat.”
Rights advocates have condemned the footage as public humiliation and intimidation, warning that such treatment violates international humanitarian law.
Sudanese Journalists Syndicate Demands His Release
The Sudanese Journalists Syndicate issued an urgent statement late Sunday expressing “deep concern” about Ibrahim’s detention.
“We hold the RSF fully responsible for the safety of our colleague Muammar Ibrahim,” the statement read.
“We demand his immediate and unconditional release.”
Press freedom organizations, including Reporters Without Borders (RSF International) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), have also called for transparency about his whereabouts and urged international monitoring bodies to intervene.
RSF’s Offensive in El-Fasher Raises Alarm
The RSF, led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti), has laid siege to el-Fasher for over 18 months, choking off humanitarian aid and forcing tens of thousands to flee. The paramilitary force claims to have taken full control of the city, including the Sixth Armoured Division, marking a critical loss for the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that more than 1,070 civilians were displaced from el-Fasher between October 19 and 21, underscoring the escalating humanitarian toll.
Observers warn that the RSF’s capture of the city could intensify violence across Darfur, where ethnic militias and paramilitary units have previously carried out atrocities.
Journalism Under Fire in Sudan’s War
Since the war between the RSF and Sudanese army erupted in April 2023, journalists have faced increasing dangers. Independent reporters have been targeted, detained, or forced into exile, while media outlets struggle to operate amid communications blackouts and constant shelling.
Ibrahim, one of the few remaining correspondents in el-Fasher, was widely respected for his impartial coverage and resilience in bringing stories from the ground to an international audience despite shortages of food, medicine, and fuel.
“Muammar’s courage kept the world informed about what’s really happening in Darfur,” said a fellow Sudanese reporter based in Port Sudan. “His detention is not only an attack on him but on truth and accountability.”
Growing Calls for International Action
Human rights advocates are urging the United Nations, African Union, and regional mediators to pressure the RSF to release detained civilians and journalists.
They also emphasize that targeting members of the press violates Article 79 of the Geneva Conventions, which guarantees the protection of journalists in armed conflicts.
“The RSF must immediately free Muammar Ibrahim and stop persecuting journalists,” said Amira Osman, a media freedom advocate in Khartoum. “The world cannot look away as those documenting Sudan’s suffering are silenced.”
A Voice of Conscience Amid War
Before his detention, Ibrahim’s reporting focused on the dire humanitarian situation in el-Fasher, where severe food shortages and displacement have pushed the city to the brink of famine.
His community-based updates, often sent through encrypted messaging apps, were among the few remaining sources of real-time information from the besieged region.
As one colleague noted, “Muammar believed journalism was a form of resistance — not through weapons, but through truth-telling and compassion.”
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