Ahmad 
The Rapid Support Forces released 537 Sudanese police officers and personnel who had been detained since the outbreak of fighting with the army in mid-April 2023.
This step came in response to an initiative by Idris Abu Qarun, one of the leaders of the Sufi orders in Sudan.
The Rapid Support Forces explained in its statement that the process of releasing the prisoners took place after obtaining written approval on June 4, in response to a proposal to release the prisoners from the army and police individually.
The forces confirmed that the aim of this step is to preserve the lives of International Committee of the Red Cross employees and prisoners who have become a target for the army.
The Rapid Support Forces accused the Sudanese army of refusing to receive the prisoners, noting that in June 2023 it bombed one of its headquarters, where a number of its captive senior officers were located, leading to the killing and wounding of 26 of them.
She added that in December 2023, the army obstructed the evacuation of civilians, including foreigners, who were present at St. Mary’s Church in the Al-Shajara area in Khartoum, as it targeted the convoy agreed upon with the International Committee of the Red Cross, killing two people and wounding seven others, including three of the committee’s employees.
The statement indicated that the Rapid Support Forces continue to provide humanitarian initiatives based on the values they believe in and in compliance with the rules of international humanitarian law and the customs and traditions of the Sudanese people.
The forces pointed out that last May they released 202 army prisoners through a previous initiative, after contacting the International Committee of the Red Cross, which initiated procedures between the two parties to complete the release process.
However, the forces accused the army of procrastinating and placing obstacles to the handover process.
The Rapid Support Forces stressed in their statement that the army’s actions will not deter them from providing and implementing humanitarian initiatives, even if alone, stressing their commitment to the rules of international humanitarian law and respect for the basic principles of human rights.
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