Port Sudan detainees suspend hunger strike after authorities promise trials

August 26, 2026 (PORT SUDAN) – Eighty-three prisoners in Port Sudan suspended a hunger strike on Wednesday after judicial authorities agreed to expedite their legal proceedings, a human rights monitoring group said.

The detainees launched the strike on Tuesday to protest prolonged detention without trial, according to the Al-Jazirah Observatory for Human Rights.

The suspension followed a prison visit by senior appellate judges and the Red Sea State chief prosecutor to review the inmates’ grievances.

Authorities agreed to assign three judges starting Sunday to handle the cases, while the prosecution committed to immediately transfer 18 completed investigation files to court out of 66 pending cases.

The rights monitor said the hunger strike was conditionally suspended until Sunday and would resume if judicial authorities fail to fulfil the agreed steps.

The group said it had filed urgent complaints with several United Nations bodies, including the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and the Fact-Finding Mission on Sudan, citing deteriorating conditions and medical neglect.

Prominent political figure Yasir Arman, head of the SPLM-N (Revolutionary Democratic Current), called for the prisoners’ release or prompt trial, saying many were detained on state security charges for opposing the war or alleged ties to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) without being formally brought before a judge.