Gedarif in Sudan sees surge in arrests as conflict escalates

Army-aligned Sudanese security forces have carried out a wave of arrests targeting alleged Rapid Support Forces (RSF) collaborators and revolutionary activists in eastern Sudan’s Gedarif state, sparking concerns about human rights violations and escalating tensions in the region.

The crackdown, which took place on Monday, resulted in the detention of at least 16 Ethiopians, most of whom are undocumented refugees, and 23 Sudanese individuals. The operation was described as an effort to enhance “security and stability” through document checks and other security measures. However, local activists have raised alarm about the targeting of activists and refugees, citing a climate of paranoia about “foreign influence” as a driving factor behind the arrests.

According to a local activist interviewed by Middle East Eye, six fellow activists, including four resistance committee members, were among those arrested and are currently being held in a police station. The activist expressed concern that the crackdown on perceived dissenters was disrupting the work of the resistance committees, which have played a key role in coordinating mutual aid groups during the conflict between the army and the RSF.

The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) defended the arrests, stating that military intelligence units, along with other security forces, had conducted operations to “control foreign presence, review national identity documents, inspect suspected properties, and conduct other security measures.” However, a coalition of eastern Sudanese groups criticized the army’s actions, accusing them of suppressing citizens and activists who are calling for an end to the war and the suffering of the Sudanese people.

The arrests come on the heels of the approval of the General Intelligence Service law (2024 amendment), which grants extensive powers to intelligence officers, including the authority to gather information, summon and interrogate civilians, conduct surveillance, detain suspects, and seize assets. Critics have raised concerns that the law could lead to further human rights abuses and undermine civil liberties in Sudan.

The crackdown in Gedarif state is part of a broader pattern of escalating violence and instability in Sudan. The ongoing conflict between the army and the RSF has displaced millions of people and resulted in tens of thousands of deaths. In regions like el-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, the civilian population is facing dire conditions, with fears that the city could become a site of mass killings akin to “Darfur’s Srebrenica.”

As the conflict continues to escalate, humanitarian organizations are warning of a looming humanitarian crisis, with internally displaced people camps at risk of starvation and lack of essential supplies. The situation is further complicated by the presence of foreign fighters and the involvement of external actors like the United Arab Emirates and Iran, who are supplying weapons and support to the warring factions.

In the midst of this turmoil, Sudanese refugees in Ethiopia are also facing challenges, with reports of harassment and looting by local militiamen. The refugees, who have fled the conflict in search of safety, are calling for protection and respect for their rights as victims of the ongoing war in Sudan.

The situation in Gedarif state and across Sudan remains volatile, with concerns growing about the impact of the conflict on civilians and the erosion of human rights and civil liberties. As the international community monitors the situation, calls for accountability and justice for those affected by the violence continue to mount.