A Sudanese medical organization has accused rebels of trying to sabotage Darfur's health system

Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) is demanding a $1 million ransom for the release of six healthcare workers abducted in the city of Al-Fashir, the Sudan Doctors' Network (SDN) reported on Facebook on Tuesday. 

The hostages - identified as four doctors, a pharmacist, and a nurse - had been treating the wounded during the prolonged siege of Al-Fashir before being captured by the RSF and allied forces, the SDN reported.  

In its statement, the SDN said that RSF units were demanding 100 million Sudanese pounds (around $167,000) for each doctor as a condition for their release. The organization declared that the RSF bore full responsibility for the lives and safety of the abducted personnel. 

"We affirm that this is an organized criminal act aimed at destroying what remains of the healthcare system in Darfur and intimidating humanitarian workers," the SDN stated. 

Human rights activists have since called on the World Health Organization (WHO) and other international humanitarian bodies to intervene urgently to secure the safe return of the medics. "Targeting doctors is a crime that cannot be tolerated," the SDN stressed. 

The incident occurred in the aftermath of the RSF's announcement on Sunday claiming full control of Al-Fashir, the capital of North Darfur Province. A militia spokesperson also said that the group had taken complete control of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) Sixth Infantry Division command.  

The following day, Darfur Governor Minni Arko Minnawi confirmed the city's fall and issued a statement on social media platform X. While acknowledging the collapse of the local government, he warned against allowing the future of Darfur to be dictated by "violent groups" or "agents of corruption." He called for the protection of civilians, clarity on the status of the displaced, and the launch of an independent inquiry into alleged atrocities committed by RSF militias.  

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"Every inch will return to its rightful owners," Minawi declared.