The Sudanese journalists’ union reported on Sunday that an armed group had abducted a journalist in a part of the country’s capital under the paramilitary RSF’s control and was requesting a ransom to free him.
Alaa El-Din Abu Harba was reportedly taken from his east Khartoum house on Friday, according to the union.
It said that after obtaining the first ransom of one million Sudanese pounds ($365), the kidnappers sought an additional billion pounds.
The union claimed in a statement that “this puts Abu Harba’s life in grave danger” and held the RSF accountable for ensuring his security.
A comment request was not immediately answered by the RSF.
Since the army and RSF began fighting in April, there has been a great deal of lawlessness in the nation’s capital.
Since the start of the conflict, the journalists’ union has documented 438 offenses against journalists, including four fatalities.
According to the union, an armed group stormed the home of Abdel Rahman Hanin, another journalist in east Khartoum, earlier this month and stole cash and belongings.
It further stated that the men stole laptops, cell phones, cash, and gold jewelry in addition to frightening Hanin’s wife and kids.
The creation of a special force tasked with defending civilians was announced on August 12 by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as “Hemedti,” the leader of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). This proclamation is a reaction to growing civilian accusations about abuses taking place in RSF-controlled regions, including theft, rape, and attacks on residences.
