A Child Injured, a Young Man Killed, and Employees Arbitrarily Detained Amid Escalating Violence and Corruption
On 5 July 2025, Central Darfur State, Sudan, Escalating Violence Against Civilians. Amid the ongoing deterioration of security across Darfur, two serious incidents involving civilians were documented in late June and early July 2025. The first was the injury of a child by stray gunfire, and the second was the deliberate killing of a young man inside his home. Both incidents occurred in areas under the control of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), highlighting a pattern of unaccountable violence.
1.1. Child Injured in Zalingei
On Tuesday, July 1, 2025, at about 2:00 p.m., 14-year-old Mohamed Musa Mohamed Saleh was struck by a stray bullet while standing near his home in the “Khamsa Dikhakhe” displacement camp in Zalingei, Central Darfur. The bullet hit his left hand, causing severe injury and resulting in the amputation of two fingers.
The incident occurred under unclear circumstances and reflects the lack of protection for civilians, especially children, in camps controlled by armed forces.
1.2. Young Man Killed in East Nile Area
On Friday, June 27, 2025, at about 8:00 p.m., Abdullah Qamar El-Din (22), a displaced resident from the Tour area, was shot and killed inside his family’s home in the East Nile area of Central Darfur.
According to eyewitness accounts and documentation by the Free Pens Network, two members of the Rapid Support Forces, reportedly from the emergency enforcement unit, fired live ammunition at his head and chest, killing him instantly.
Notably, no items were looted, indicating a targeted killing without criminal motive.
2. Arbitrary Arrest of Civilian Employees in Wadi Saleh
In a separate incident in Wadi Saleh locality, RSF personnel arrested two civilian employees amidst financial unrest caused by corrupt salary practices in areas under RSF control.
Eyewitness confirmed that Mohammed Ahmadi (40, accountant) and Mohammed Bakhit (45) were arrested and detained for three days. The arrests were allegedly due to the suspension of RSF-affiliated employees’ salaries, though neither detainees were not responsible for or aware of the salary stoppage. They were released without charges or legal explanation.
Local sources report a network of corruption involving civil administrators and RSF leadership, particularly centered in Garsila locality. Employees were previously forced to contribute deductions from their own salaries, which were handed to Mr. Daoud Dehab, the head of the civil administration, whose own salary had been suspended by the central government.
As the number of unpaid employees increased, cashiers halted deductions, which provoked backlash and ultimately led to the arrest of the two accountants as a form of coercion and retaliation.
3. Observations and Patterns
- RSF-controlled areas are marked by arbitrary detention, financial coercion, and the absence of the rule of law.
- Civil servants are often forced to operate beyond their mandate due to militia pressure.
- Civilians, including children and displaced people, are increasingly exposed to lethal violence without protection.
- There is a growing pattern of systematic corruption and exploitation involving civilian and military actors.
DNHR call up on:
Guarantee the safety of civilians, particularly displaced persons and children, from arbitrary violence and gunfire in conflict zones.
Restore Civil Oversight
Advocate for the reactivation of civil service institutions under the supervision of a neutral and independent authority, separate from militia control.
Conclusion
These incidents reflect the urgent humanitarian and legal crisis unfolding in Central Darfur. The targeting of civilians, coercive detention of employees, and rampant corruption require a swift response from the international community to protect lives, restore lawful governance, and end the cycle of impunity.