Detention spree in Northern State targets activists, protesters

DONGOLA – Sudanese security forces in Northern State’s Abri town have launched a new wave of arrests targeting activists and residents opposed to mining operations, several locals and activists told Sudans Post this week.

The detentions come amid growing demonstrations demanding an end to mining activities that residents accuse of destroying farmland, polluting water sources, and using toxic chemicals such as mercury and cyanide.

Locals say the crackdown is part of a broader effort by security forces to silence dissent in areas where anti-mining sentiment is spreading.

“The arrests began on Sunday when security forces started rounding up young people suspected of mobilizing anti-mining protests,” one activist, who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons, told Sudans Post on Tuesday.

“They came at night and detained at least seven people, including those who had been publicly critical of the mining companies,” they added.

However, other residents said the detentions have been ongoing for several weeks and appear to follow a pattern of intimidation by security forces who would threaten to frame someone for collaboration with the RSF.

“These arrests didn’t start this week. They’ve been happening for over a month,” a community leader in Abri said. “Every few days, someone disappears — activists, teachers, or anyone who speaks against the mining operations and they would threaten you to brand you as a collaborator with the RSF.”

A third source, a local trader in the area, said both the General Security Service and the Joint Forces, which include elements of the army and local police, have been involved in the arrests.

“They are working together — the General Security and the Joint Forces — moving from village to village detaining people they consider troublemakers,” he said.

Another civil society member told Sudans Post from Dongola that the campaign has created a climate of fear.

“People are afraid to even talk about the environment anymore,” he said. “If you post something on social media about mining, they come for you. It’s becoming dangerous.”

Among those detained is activist Mazen Mohamed, known for his outspoken opposition to gold mining projects in Nubian areas. He had previously described the operations as “organized looting of natural resources.”

His arrest is seen by fellow activists as part of a larger campaign against those demanding the removal of mining companies accused of using harmful chemicals and operating without environmental oversight.

Another detainee, Badri Ahmed Badri, was reportedly arrested after submitting a formal complaint to local authorities protesting a mining company’s withdrawal of water from his village.

The petition demanded that the company halt the pumping of water, citing damage to community wells and the surrounding environment. Security officers allegedly arrested Badri days later without explanation.

Authorities have not commented publicly on the arrests or the accusations against the detainees. Residents say the silence reflects a deliberate policy to suppress environmental activism and discourage public criticism of the mining sector, which has expanded rapidly in Northern State despite recurring local protests.

“The government treats mining like a national security issue, not a community issue,” the civil society member added. “People are being punished simply for wanting clean water and safe land.”

Maaio Osman, a local resident and activist, criticized what he described as “reckless and destructive mining” in Northern State, saying projects such as the proposed Karama Market development threaten the area’s future rather than advance it.

He urged local officials in Abri locality to stand with residents in rejecting unregulated mining and to prioritize “sustainable growth that preserves Abri’s environment and the health of its people.”

“Mining may have brought some revenue and boosted the state’s coffers, but the harm it has caused far outweighs any benefit. What good is material gain if it comes at the cost of our people’s health, our security, and the fabric of our community?” he asked.

“We cannot accept projects that bring poison, crime, and demographic change to our land. True development is that which protects the environment, ensures public health, and secures a future for our children,” he added.