Concerns are mounting over the human rights situation and the rule of law in Sudan’s Blue Nile region following reports of arrests targeting civilians in the towns of Damazin and Roseires, amid warnings that such actions could undermine social cohesion and peaceful coexistence in the region.
In the latest incident, activists reported in Facebook posts that the security operatives arrested three civilians in the southern neighborhood of Roseires in the early hours of Monday. The detainees were identified as Abdelrahman Mohammed al-Tayyib, also known as Johnny, Yousif Abdelkarim and Dafallah al-Ratl. They were reportedly taken to an undisclosed location.
Ahmed Abdelrahman, an activist affiliated with the Blue Nile Youth Advocacy Network, said the region had recently witnessed a wave of arrests involving several civilians, particularly in Damazin and Roseires.
“The arrests were linked to tribal and family affiliations, and the methods used in carrying them out failed to meet even the minimum standards of human rights,” he said. “Human rights organizations and other relevant actors should condemn these violations.”
Reports of the arrest of the three men have raised concerns about their safety and legal status, amid a lack of confirmed information about their whereabouts or the reasons for their detention.
Activists warned that targeting individuals because of their family ties or tribal and regional affiliations, if confirmed, could deepen social divisions, erode trust among communities and undermine the rule of law.
Rights advocates have called for respect for the principle of individual criminal responsibility, stressing that people must not be held accountable for the actions of their relatives. They also emphasized the need to comply with legal procedures and safeguard the rights and safety of detainees.
Radio Tamazuj could not independently verify the circumstances surrounding the arrests or the reasons behind them. No confirmed information was available regarding the whereabouts of the three men, and the information available included no comment from the security authorities concerned.
The developments come amid calls for the protection of civilians, respect for their legal rights, and an end to practices that could result in individuals being targeted based on family ties or tribal and regional affiliations.
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