400 inmates escape East Darfur prison after drone attack
Officials blamed the Sudanese army for drone strikes on Al-Jalabi Prison, leading to the escape of hundreds of inmates.
Approximately 400 inmates escaped from Al-Jalabi Prison in East Darfur on Monday, October 19, following drone attacks. Local officials, including Ahmed Issa Abou, a legal adviser to the RSF-aligned East Darfur state government, attributed the strikes to the Sudanese army. Abou stated that the attack on the civilian facility, which held over 400 inmates convicted of or awaiting trial for criminal offenses like murder and theft, caused the mass escape. He denied the presence of prisoners of war or political detainees.
The East Darfur state health ministry reported that 34 people were killed or injured in the drone attacks, which involved four drones hitting the prison. The director general, Al-Azraq Hassan Himida, described the prison as a civilian facility and accused the army of violating inmates' rights. He called for investigations into attacks on civilian infrastructure, including prisons and hospitals, by international organizations.
The prison strike reportedly followed an attack on a restaurant. Journalist Ali Al-Rafiq condemned the strike on the prison as a grave crime and expressed concern over attacks on civilian infrastructure. The Sudanese army has been at war with the Rapid Support Forces since April 2023, with front lines contested across several regions, leading to widespread displacement and infrastructure damage.
Why it mattersInmates convicted of or awaiting trial for criminal offenses escaped from prison following drone attacks.