Nine Egyptians held captive by Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces for 19 months have returned home to Egypt, following a humanitarian crisis exacerbated by ongoing warfare in Sudan. Their experiences highlight significant issues of detention and mistreatment amid the conflict, which has drawn in various foreign powers.
On Thursday morning, nine Egyptians who had been held captive by Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces for 19 months returned to Egypt, greeted by celebrations. Ahmed Aziz Masry expressed joy, stating, “Praise be to God. A new age begins for us today. Our life starts anew from today,” while residents of Abo Shanab celebrated his return. This village, located 110 km southwest of Cairo, was home to seven of the freed captives.
Since April 2023, Sudan has been engulfed in conflict between the army and the Rapid Support Forces, leading to a humanitarian crisis marked by large-scale displacement and hunger. A UN report highlighted a troubling trend of arbitrary detention, torture, and mistreatment of detainees by both forces involved.
The captives had initially moved to Khartoum to work in importing household goods and small electrical appliances. One of the captives, Emad Moawad, recounted his ordeal, explaining that he had a plane ticket to return to Egypt when the fighting escalated, but was unable to leave due to the closure of the airport. He stated, “Sixty-five days later, the RSF raided our house and held us captive for over 19 months.”
Masry shared that the RSF made false accusations against them of espionage for the Egyptian intelligence service. He recounted the harrowing experience of their captivity, where they were misled about their release multiple times. Finally, they were transported from the RSF to the Sudanese Army, which subsequently took them to the Egyptian embassy and onward to Cairo. The ongoing conflict has involved multiple foreign powers, with accusations traded between the RSF and the Sudanese army regarding external support.
The release of the nine Egyptian captives marks a significant moment amidst the ongoing conflict in Sudan. Their accounts shed light on the harsh realities faced by detainees during wartime, highlighting issues related to arbitrary detention and mistreatment. As the situation in Sudan remains volatile, the humanitarian implications continue to escalate, necessitating international attention and assistance.
Original Source: www.usnews.com
