A recent incident in the South Darfur capital, Nyala, brings to light the alarming state of human rights and personal safety in the region. A militant group has reportedly abducted lawyer Ahmed Mohamed Abdullah, known as “Al Lord”, and his neighbor Adam Omar Jadallah, an employee at an international organization.
Darfur24 revealed that the abduction occurred right outside one of their residences, adding to the continuing threats and arrests faced by community leaders and human rights defenders in Darfur. Caught between the battling parties, these individuals are continually subjected to arbitrary detentions and harassment, a fact that is leading to grave concerns about their safety and the state of human rights in the region.
Most recently, Adam Sharif, a fellow lawyer, was taken into custody by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) from his home in the “Rayiq” neighborhood in the heart of the city. He was then moved to one of their bases before he was eventually released.
A fellow lawyer in Nyala confirmed that Al Lord and Jadallah were abducted last Thursday in front of Al Lord’s house in the Al Rahman district, east of Nyala. According to eyewitness accounts, the kidnappers used a Land Cruiser vehicle, known locally as “Obama.”
In a chilling twist, the abductors reportedly contacted the families of the victims using Jadallah’s phone, demanding a ransom for their safe release.
Nyala city has been plagued by severe security lapses since the onset of the war between the Sudanese Army and the Rapid Support Forces. This situation has put the lives of its citizens in constant danger due to the pervasive presence of militants throughout the city. The fact that the local police force has ceased its operations, coupled with the ongoing battles between the warring factions, has further exacerbated the state of insecurity.
