ICRC confirms release by RSF of 125 Sudanese soldiers

By Yakoota Al Ahmad and Mahmut Geldi

KHARTOUM (AA) - The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Thursday announced the release of 125 Sudanese soldiers held by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

"ICRC teams transported the released soldiers, including 44 wounded soldiers, by bus from (the capital) Khartoum to Wadi Madani (in central Sudan)," the ICRC said in a statement.

"This positive step means that families will be celebrating (the Muslim) Eid al-Adha (holiday) with their loved ones," said Jean Christophe Sandoz, ICRC's head of delegation in Sudan.

"We stand ready to act as a neutral intermediary for the release of detainees from all sides to the conflict whenever requested," he added.

The RSF said the release of the soldiers was done at the initiative of the head of the paramilitary group, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, who is commonly known as Hemedti.

The Sudanese army, however, did not comment on the soldiers’ release.

Sudan has been ravaged by fighting between the army and the RSF since mid-April in a conflict that has killed nearly 1,000 civilians and injured 5,000 others, according to local medics.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar