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FikraSD Condemns RSF’s Detention of Sudanese Journalist Muammar Ibrahim, Demands His Immediate Release
November 4, 2025
Fikra for Studies and Development (FikraSD) condemns in the strongest possible terms the abduction and continued detention of Sudanese journalist Muammar Ibrahim by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia in El Fasher on October 26, 2025.
Mr. Ibrahim, a dedicated reporter who has courageously documented the 18-month siege of El Fasher, has played a vital role in informing both national and international audiences about the humanitarian crisis and atrocities unfolding in North Darfur. His reporting has shed light on the severe impact of the siege on civilians including shortages of essential supplies, violence against non-combatants, and the broader implications for regional stability. Such work is indispensable for fostering accountability, enabling humanitarian responses, and supporting efforts toward sustainable peace in Sudan.
The RSF militia’s brutal record including documented war crimes, ethnic killing, ethnic cleansing, and mass killings in Darfur and other regions of Sudan further heightens our concern for Mr. Ibrahim’s safety, as well as that of the broader civilian population still suffering under the RSF’s ongoing brutality.
Following Mr. Ibrahim’s detention, he appeared in two videos circulated on social media by RSF militiamen: one showing him surrounded by fighters confirming his capture as he attempted to leave the city, and another depicting him crouched and subjected to physical strikes and mockery while being coerced to praise his captors. A third video, released on November 3, 2025, showed him alongside RSF spokesperson Al-Fatih Gurashi, who accused him of “non-professionalism” and “bias” for referring to the RSF as a militia. The latest video, reportedly filmed in South Darfur, suggests that Mr. Ibrahim was transferred from El Fasher to the RSF’s stronghold in Nyala. These coerced appearances significantly deepen concerns for his wellbeing.
FikraSD notes with alarm the statements issued by international organizations including the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), Reporters Without Borders, and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) which have raised urgent concerns for Mr. Ibrahim’s safety and called for his immediate release.
We demand that the Rapid Support Forces release Muammar Ibrahim without delay and guarantee his safety and wellbeing. The RSF leadership and its political front, Ta’asis, bear full responsibility for his condition and treatment.
We call upon journalists, media organizations, and the international community to launch a concerted campaign to ensure his protection and secure his unconditional release. Furthermore, we urge all relevant international actors including the United Nations, the African Union, and human rights bodies to prioritize the protection of journalists and civilians in conflict zones. This includes advocating for a special session of the UN Human Rights Council and the UN Security Council to address the deteriorating situation in El Fasher and across Darfur, as supported by FikraSD and allied civil society organizations.
We also urge the UN Secretary-General to invoke Article 99 of the UN Charter to convene such a session without delay. Furthermore, we call on the United Arab Emirates to use its considerable leverage over the RSF to secure the release of Muammar Ibrahim and to end its ongoing campaign of atrocities in Sudan.
FikraSD remains steadfast in its mission to promote evidence-based policy dialogue aimed at achieving a non-violent resolution to Sudan’s conflict. We stand in solidarity with Muammar Ibrahim and with all Sudanese journalists and citizens who risk their lives to uphold truth and accountability. Their voices are essential to safeguard the truth.
We affirm that silencing journalists is an attack on truth itself, and truth is the first step toward justice and peace.
We call on the international community especially the United Nations, African Union, and media freedom defenders worldwide to act with urgency and principle. The world must not remain silent as the RSF targets Sudanese people.
Fikra for Studies and Development
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