Northern State: Two civilians apprehended and charged with crimes against the state shortly after the Criminal Court in Merowe dismissed previous charges and subsequently released them.

The African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) expresses its profound concern regarding the well-being of two civilians who were detained by the SAF military Intelligence Unit subsequent to the Merowe Criminal Court's decision to dismiss a previous case against them.  The well-documented use of torture and other forms of ill-treatment against detainees by the warring parties, especially while held in unknown locations, raises serious concerns for their safety. 

On September 15, 2025, a group of Military Intelligence officers, a unit of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), under the supervision of Division 19 in Merowe, Northern State of Sudan, arrested two individuals. The first, Mohamed Alhaj Asakir, a 24-year-old man from the Habania tribe of South Darfur, and Musab Abdul Rahim Ramadan Zakaria, a 30-year-old man originally from the Nuba Mountains, were arrested shortly after the Merowe Criminal Court dropped the case against them and subsequently ordered their release.

The two civilians were first arrested in December 2024 and detained in a facility within the Almuthalth area at the junction, which lies at the border of Sudan, Egypt, and Libya. They were handed over by SAF allies from the joint forces of the Darfur Military Movement group to the  SAF Military Intelligence Unit in Merowe, where they faced harsh treatment, including beatings and electric shocks. In March 2025, the SAF Military Intelligence unit initiated legal proceedings against them, resulting in their transfer to prison pending the court hearing and the eventual dismissal of the charges. In contrast to the detention facility, detainees were not subjected to torture in the prison. 

Following the dismissal of the case by the Merowe Criminal Court, the individuals were again charged with offenses under Sections 21, 50, and 51 of the Crimes Against the State, as outlined in the 1991 Criminal Act. The case was initiated by an officer from the Military Intelligence Unit of Division 19, serving as the complainant, concerning allegations of collaboration and the provision of information in support of the Rapid Support Forces.

Mr. Asakir was arrested by the SAF Military Intelligence unit shortly after departing from the main gate of Merowe Prison, where he had just been released. Despite attempting to return to the prison for protection, he was nonetheless apprehended. Meanwhile, Mr. Musab was also apprehended upon arrival at the public transportation hub, where he was dropped off by a tuk-tuk. Both individuals were subsequently transported to the MI detention facility located within the premises of the 19th Division of Merowe. 

The re-arrest of civilians highlights serious concerns about the disregard for the rule of law and the misuse of power. It’s deeply troubling to see the military consistently using legal measures to intimidate civilians during this ongoing war in Sudan.

Recommendations 

• We call upon the SAF Military Intelligence unit to ensure the safety of the two detainees and present them before the judicial authorities for a prompt and equitable trial.
• We reiterate our appeals to the warring parties to refrain from arbitrarily arresting and detaining civilians on allegations of collaborating with the opposing party based on street whispers. 
• We further call upon the warring parties to inform their family members of the whereabouts of those held incommunicado in ungazetted detention centers.
• We also urge the Sudanese authorities to conduct an independent and impartial investigation into the arbitrary arrests of civilians and hold those responsible accountable.