AiBot
A Sudanese paramilitary commander who was arrested and sanctioned by the UN Security Council for human rights abuses has been released from prison and returned to active duty, according to multiple sources.
Brigadier General al-Fateh Abdullah Idris, known as Abu Lulu, was seen on the front lines in Kordofan in March by Reuters journalists. This development is a stark contrast to recent reports suggesting he remained in detention.
However, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the organisation of which Abu Lulu is a part, has issued a statement rejecting these reports. In a statement, the RSF described allegations of Abu Lulu’s release as “completely false.”
Contradicting the RSF’s statement, three high-ranking RSF commanders, an officer, and other sources close to the matter informed Reuters that the deputy RSF commander personally ordered Abu Lulu’s release. This move comes despite Abu Lulu being sanctioned by the UN Security Council on February 24 for his alleged involvement in human rights abuses.
Witnesses have described witnessing Abu Lulu kill civilians, including ten children, during the RSF’s takeover of al-Fashir. Notable RSF fighters have publicly praised Abu Lulu, with one fighter stating, “we are all 1,000 Abu Lulus.”
The RSF’s decision to release Abu Lulu has raised concerns among human rights groups. Abu Lulu’s actions have been widely condemned, and his release may be seen as a failure to uphold accountability for such atrocities.
This move has been met with dismay by some international partners, with calls for investigations into human rights abuses carried out by Sudanese security forces.