KHARTOUM – A Sudanese government committee tasked with preparing for the exchange of conflict-related detainees has called on families of civilians detained or reported missing by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to register their cases within one week.
The Preparatory Committee for the Exchange of Detainees, established under Transitional Sovereign Council Chairman’s Decision No. 270 of 2026, urged anyone whose detained or missing relatives have not previously been reported to file a report at the nearest police station or Public Prosecution Office.
In a statement issued after its inaugural meeting on Saturday, the committee said the registration campaign forms part of preparations for implementing a detainee exchange mechanism in line with a United Nations initiative aimed at facilitating the release of conflict-related detainees.
The committee said it reviewed procedures for identifying and classifying detainees, compiling official records and coordinating with relevant authorities to organize the exchange process.
Sudan’s government recently endorsed the UN-backed initiative as part of broader efforts to address the humanitarian consequences of the conflict, including the release of civilians held during the war. Authorities say documenting detainees and missing persons is a key step in verifying identities before any exchange takes place.
Since fighting erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF in April 2023, the United Nations and human rights organizations have reported widespread cases of arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance and incommunicado detention of civilians. Families across Sudan have continued to seek information about relatives who disappeared during military operations or while crossing conflict zones.
The committee also approved a comprehensive plan to provide medical and psychological support for detainees before, during and after the exchange process, saying it would work with relevant institutions to ensure the operation is carried out effectively.
Officials said information collected during the one-week reporting period would help establish a verified database of civilian detainees and missing persons to support future exchange arrangements under the UN initiative.
