The families and relatives of those detained during the ongoing war in Sudan, now in its second year, have appealed to the African Union Commission to play a role in facilitating a prisoner exchange initiative between the warring parties in cooperation with the International Committee of the Red Cross.
In a letter addressed to the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, the families urged the AU to engage with both sides of the conflict and press them to disclose the lists of detainees and allow them to communicate with their families. The letter emphasized the importance of defending the rights of vulnerable detainees, particularly children, women, the elderly, and people with disabilities, in line with the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and international humanitarian law standards.
The letter highlighted that since the outbreak of war in April 2023, thousands of Sudanese citizens—including men and women from the armed forces, minors, and individuals with disabilities—have been detained or captured under unknown conditions without any contact with their families or access to legal or humanitarian aid.
It also noted that the suffering of families has worsened due to the lack of verified information about their loved ones, particularly as many detainees are held in conditions that may constitute violations of international humanitarian law and basic human rights.
The letter expressed confidence in the African Union’s long-standing legacy of supporting peace, human dignity, and justice across the continent.
