The Committee for Justice (CFJ) has documented the launch of an open-ended hunger strike by 83 detainees inside the Port Sudan National Prison on 25 August 2026, in protest against their prolonged detention without resolution of their legal status and to demand urgent intervention to address what they described as deteriorating humanitarian and health conditions inside the prison.
According to a memorandum submitted by the detainees to the relevant authorities, all signatories have been charged under Articles 50 and 51 of the Sudanese Criminal Act of 1991. Some of them have reportedly remained in detention for up to two years without being brought to trial or afforded the opportunity to appear before a court, which they argue constitutes an obstruction of judicial proceedings and a denial of their right to a fair trial.
The memorandum stated that repeated postponements of court hearings, the absence of public prosecutors, complainants, and prosecution witnesses, as well as the assignment of a single judge to oversee the cases of all 83 detainees, have contributed to prolonged detention and worsening psychological and health conditions among those held.
The detainees also reported a deterioration in the health of several individuals suffering from chronic illnesses, including diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease, amid what they described as inadequate healthcare and neglect within the prison. They further noted that court proceedings have been affected by administrative factors, including the illness or leave of the presiding judge without the appointment of a replacement.
In their memorandum, the detainees called for a general amnesty for those whose detention has been prolonged without judicial resolution, or alternatively, intervention by the Chief Justice to establish additional judicial circuits and appoint dedicated judges in Port Sudan to reduce case backlogs and accelerate trial proceedings. They also called for legal solutions to address the repeated absence of prosecution witnesses and complainants, as well as the provision of urgent medical care for critical cases.
The Committee for Justice stresses that the continued detention of individuals for prolonged periods without judicial determination or fair trial proceedings raises serious concerns regarding respect for fair trial guarantees and the rights to liberty and physical integrity.
CFJ calls for the immediate release of detainees for whom no lawful basis exists for continued detention, or their referral to fair and prompt judicial proceedings, while ensuring that detainees suffering from health conditions receive the necessary medical care. The Committee also urges international and regional human rights mechanisms to closely monitor the conditions of detainees in areas controlled by parties to the conflict in Sudan and to work toward safeguarding their legal and constitutional rights.
