SAF carries out an arrest campaign based on ethnic and regional affiliations in Port Sudan
The city of Port Sudan witnessed a widespread arrest campaign carried out by the security authorities affiliated with the de facto government, targeting more than (2,500) citizens. This campaign, dubbed locally the “Clean-up Campaign,” was carried out amidst accusations of ethnic and regional motives.
According to a video report, the campaign specifically targeted citizens who hail from tribes of the regions of Kordofan and Darfur. The number of detainees reached approximately (1,470), amongst which, (234) are minors. The campaign also targeted (65) small business owners and merchants in the Grand Market of Port Sudan.
Over the past two weeks, unidentified drones have targeted several strategic and military sites belonging to the Sudanese Army in Port Sudan, prompting the authorities to arrest several citizens on charges of revealing sensitive information and providing coordinates.
The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) along with joint security units launched unanticipated raids using armed vehicles, targeting homes and shops in Port Sudan’s Grand Market, in search of “suspects.”
In a brief statement, Port Sudan Authorities justified the campaign by claiming that the detainees were “suspects,” without providing further details or evidence to support these claims.
It is worth noting that the majority of those arrested are permanent residents of the city, a significant number of whom were born and raised in Port Sudan before the city became a power hub for the military following the latter’s forced displacement from Khartoum.
The aforementioned campaign raised widespread -and valid- concerns in regards to the escalating human rights violations, amidst calls from civil society and human rights organizations for an immediate investigation and the release of all individuals arbitrarily detained.
