Port Sudan Detainees Suspend Hunger Strike After Courts Pledge Action

Port Sudan, August 26, 2026 - Eighty-three prisoners in Port Sudan suspended a hunger strike after judicial authorities agreed to accelerate legal proceedings, highlighting continued pressure on Sudan's justice system during the war.

The detainees began the strike on August 25 to protest prolonged detention without trial. Senior appellate judges and the Red Sea State chief prosecutor visited the prison to review their grievances.

Authorities agreed to assign three judges from Sunday to handle the cases, while prosecutors committed to transferring 18 completed investigation files to court out of 66 pending cases. The suspension is conditional and the strike could resume if the pledged steps are not implemented.

Al-Jazirah Observatory for Human Rights filed urgent complaints with United Nations bodies, citing deteriorating conditions and medical neglect. Yasir Arman, head of the SPLM-N Revolutionary Democratic Current, called for the prisoners' release or prompt trial, saying many were held on state security charges linked to opposition to the war or alleged ties to the Rapid Support Forces without being brought before a judge.

The case is politically significant because it combines wartime security prosecutions, due-process concerns, and international scrutiny, all of which affect Sudan's institutional credibility and postwar governance outlook.