Our letter to the US Embassy of Malta about Muammar Ibrahim

Mark Camilleri
Dar Camilleri

TheMaltese Herald
Malta

16/11/2025

Her Excellency Somers Farkas,
Ambassador of the United States to Malta
US Embassy
Malta

and

His Excellency Ken Toko
Chargé d’Affaires if the United States to Malta
US Embassy
Malta

Dear Ambassador Somers Farkas and Chargé d’Affaires Ken Toko,

Subject: Urgent request to secure the release of journalist Mr Muammar Ibrahim from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) via Emirati discussions

I write to you on behalf of The Maltese Herald concerning the urgent case of Mr Muammar Ibrahim, a Sudanese journalist detained by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) after their capture of Al Fashir on or around 26 October 2025. According to our information, Mr Ibrahim was one of the last independent reporters covering the siege of al-Fashir in Sudan’s Darfur region before he was apprehended.

In light of reports that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) finances and arms the RSF and thus wields significant leverage over them, we respectfully request that you press the US Secretary of State to:

1. Contact the UAE authorities at the highest diplomatic level.
2. Urge them to direct the RSF immediately to release Mr Ibrahim and all other detained journalists.
3. Ensure that the UAE communicates a clear demand to the RSF that the detention or mistreatment of journalists is unacceptable and must end without delay.

Your intervention is vital: given the UAE’s special relationship with the RSF and the dire humanitarian situation in Darfur, Western diplomatic pressure—especially from the United States and Europe—can make the difference between Mr Ibrahim’s safe release and further deterioration of his condition.

We believe that by leveraging your countries’ diplomatic weight and relationship with the UAE, you can effect a decisive outcome. We also urge you to coordinate with EU counterparts and international institutions to hold accountable any military forces in Sudan that threaten the safety and security of journalists.

Thank you for your immediate attention to this matter and for the leadership your government can provide in safeguarding press freedom and human rights.

Yours sincerely,

Mark Camilleri
The Maltese Herald
news@malteseherald.com

cc: Maltese Foreign Minister Ian Borg

Mark Camilleri

Website Editor
Historian and Publisher