The Committee for Justice (CFJ) condemns the arrest of several women activists in Nyala, South Darfur, following their participation in a workshop addressing women’s rights—an incident that raises serious concerns about the targeting of activists and civil society workers in Sudan.
According to CFJ’s documentation, Rapid Support Forces (RSF) personnel conducted raids at dawn on 5 March, arresting several activists from their homes in Nyala using combat vehicles and armed personnel in civilian clothing. The activists were taken to an undisclosed location without any information regarding the reasons for their arrest or the entity responsible for detaining them.
Available information indicates that among those arrested are:
- Ishraqa Abdelrahman, broadcaster
- Dr. Manahil Mustafa Al‑Sanousi, Director of Al‑Manhal Training Center
- Zahraa Mohamed Al‑Hassan, radio presenter
- Activist Mawahib Ibrahim
- Activist Ezdihar Abdelmonem Hamid
CFJ noted that the arrests came shortly after the activists took part in a workshop organized by the initiatives “Journalists for Peace” and “Netkalem”, in cooperation with the Sudan Women Development Organization, with the participation of around 25 attendees. The workshop focused on women’s rights in international conventions and national laws, including UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.
CFJ stressed that arresting women activists for participating in peaceful civil society activities represents a violation of the rights to freedom of expression, association, and civic engagement, and heightens fears that the detainees may face arbitrary detention or enforced disappearance.
The Committee calls for the immediate disclosure of the whereabouts of the detained activists and for allowing them to communicate with their families and legal representatives. CFJ further demands their immediate and unconditional release, an end to the targeting of women activists and civil society workers, and full respect for the right to freedom of expression, association, and human rights work in Sudan.
