The Committee for Justice (CFJ) has documented the arrest of a doctor and a humanitarian worker by the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement–North (SPLM‑N) in the Kauda area of South Kordofan State, and their transfer to an undisclosed location, according to local sources.
The arrests involved Dr. Kengas Natambi Jaro, Director of Medical Supplies in the Nuba Mountains Region, and Youssef Ibrahim, an employee of the humanitarian organization SMARTEN.
According to available information, the incident forms part of a broader wave of arrests that has affected the Kauda area since the outbreak of conflict in the region in March 2026. Reports indicate that approximately 710 individuals are currently being held in detention, including 45 humanitarian workers.
The Committee for Justice expressed concern over the continued detention of civilians and humanitarian personnel without publicly available information regarding the legal basis for their detention or their whereabouts.
CFJ calls for the immediate disclosure of the place of detention and fate of Dr. Kengas Natambi Jaro and Youssef Ibrahim, guarantees for their physical and legal safety, and the release of all individuals against whom no recognizable charges can be substantiated through fair legal procedures.
The Committee further calls for an end to arbitrary arrests and detention, and stresses the importance of respecting the rights of civilians and humanitarian workers and enabling them to carry out their professional and humanitarian duties without intimidation or undue interference.