Darfur Victims Support Organization
23 November 2024
Report on the Arrest of the Secretary-General of the IDPs Coordination Committee at Kassab Camp – Kutum Locality – North Darfur State – November 16, 2024
Kassab Camp, located 2 kilometers north of Kutum Locality, is home to approximately 500,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs). The camp was established in 2004 in the aftermath of attacks carried out by the former regime under Omar al-Bashir against civilians in Darfur. Despite being a symbol of resilience, the camp is now witnessing alarming escalations in human rights violations.
On November 16, 2024, forces affiliated with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) arbitrarily arrested the Secretary-General of the IDPs Coordination Committee at Kassab Camp, Mr. Ibrahim Adam Mohammed Juma. This arrest represents a blatant violation of human rights and international humanitarian law.
Incident Details:
According to testimonies from a youth leader in the camp (S.A.H.), an RSF unit comprising two military vehicles, led by Ibrahim Abdullah Ibrahim (commonly known as “Arabi Kiro”), raided a meeting of the IDPs Coordination Committee leadership at Kassab Camp. The meeting took place at Kutum Boys’ Secondary School around 10 a.m.
Arrest Circumstances:
– The RSF demanded the handover of administrative documents related to Kassab Camp.
– The leadership, including Mr. Juma, refused to comply with the demand.
– Mr. Juma, a 35-year-old father of three and a resident of Center “B” in the camp, was subsequently detained and transported to the RSF Intelligence headquarters in Kutum Locality.
Additional Accounts:
A relative of the detainee, who attempted to visit him at the RSF intelligence detention center located in “Al-Salama East” near Kutum Market, confirmed that Mr. Juma had been subjected to torture. Several days after his arrest, there is still no information regarding his health condition or his current location, raising serious concerns about his fate and safety.
Condemnation and Recommendations:
The Darfur Victims Support Organizations strongly condemns this arbitrary detention, which constitutes a flagrant violation of human rights and contravenes international laws protecting civilians. The organization holds the RSF, particularly its leader Ibrahim Abdullah Ibrahim (“Arabi Kiro”), fully responsible for Mr. Juma’s safety and any further destabilization of Kassab Camp’s security.
Recommendations:
1. Immediate and unconditional release of Mr. Ibrahim Adam Mohammed Juma, with assurances of his physical and psychological well-being.
2. Accountability for those responsible for these violations, including both direct perpetrators and their accomplices.
3. An end to interference in the internal affairs of IDPs and respect for their fundamental rights as civilians affected by the conflict.
4. Guarantees for the safety of IDPs and their leadership, protecting them from arbitrary arrests, threats, or disruptions to their daily lives and camp governance.
The Darfur Victims Support Organization emphasizes that failure to address these demands promptly may lead to grave humanitarian and security repercussions for Kassab Camp and the broader Kutum Locality. The organization calls on the international community and human rights institutions to fulfill their responsibilities by exerting urgent pressure on the relevant authorities to halt these violations and ensure the protection of IDPs’ rights.
