In July 2025, soldiers from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) seized journalist El-Rashid Mohamed Haroun at the Ardeiba market in the city of El-Geneina, West Darfur and took him to a detention facility, a local journalist told CPJ, on condition of anonymity, citing fear of reprisal.
In August, the RSF transferred Haroun to Dagres Prison, southwest of Nyala in South Darfur, where he was barred from receiving family visits.
As of September 2025, Haroun remained in Dagres Prison and no charges had been disclosed, according to the local journalist.
The online outlet Darfur 24 reported that Haroun was the former director of local radio station Darfur 90.3, and a correspondent for several regional TV channels.
CPJ’s September 2025 email to the RSF seeking comment did not receive a response.
Since the war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF broke out in April 2023, more than a dozen journalists and media workers have been killed in Sudan, others have been detained or displaced, and scores of outlets have been shuttered.