The Committee for Justice (CFJ) has documented the detention by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of 23 students from Central Darfur State while they were traveling to Chad to sit for the Sudanese secondary school examinations scheduled for next June.
According to CFJ’s documentation, the students were stopped last week while traveling from the Golo area in Jebel Marra, before being transferred to the city of Zalingei, amid information indicating that some of their families received calls demanding financial payments in exchange for their release.
The Committee confirmed that all of the detained students are under the age of 18, raising serious concerns regarding their safety and the conditions of their detention, particularly in light of the continued lack of information about their situation and whereabouts.
The Committee for Justice expressed concern over the targeting of students and the denial of their right to education and safe movement, considering that the detention of minors and the demand for ransom payments in exchange for their release constitute a serious violation of human rights and international humanitarian law.
CFJ calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all detained students, ensuring their safety and enabling them to access their examination centers, and for an end to all forms of arbitrary detention and violations against civilians, particularly children and students.
