Reports suggest that a former Sudanese politician accused of crimes against humanity has claimed that he and other former officials are no longer in custody, possibly after a prison break.
Ahmad Harun, who is one of the individuals facing charges from the International Criminal Court (ICC), was detained in Kober prison in the capital city of Khartoum. Despite a ceasefire between the warring military factions, there are concerns about their dedication to a sustainable peace agreement. The conflict initially arose on April 15th from a fierce struggle for power between Sudan's regular army leaders and a rival paramilitary group.
Earlier this week, reports surfaced of a prison break at Kober, where Sudan's former president, Omar al-Bashir, was serving his sentence alongside Ahmad Harun. On Tuesday, Harun released a statement on Sudan's Tayba TV confirming that he and other former officials who served under Bashir had left the prison. However, Harun also stated that he would be willing to face the judiciary once it was operational again. Bashir, who was removed from power by the military following widespread protests in 2019, had been imprisoned for corruption.
According to two sources cited by Reuters, the 79-year-old has been admitted to a military hospital on multiple occasions, including prior to the outbreak of hostilities. Additionally, he is facing accusations from the ICC for orchestrating a large-scale campaign of murder and sexual violence in Darfur, which he denies. Like Harun, he was arrested following the coup against Bashir in 2019. Since then, Sudan has been plagued by frequent turmoil and numerous coup attempts.
In the wake of the ceasefire in Sudan, multiple nations have been able to safely evacuate their citizens from the country. A second evacuation flight, this time rescuing UK nationals, has arrived in Cyprus, and a boat carrying over 1,600 individuals from various countries has docked in Saudi Arabia. Volker Perthes, the UN special envoy to Sudan, is presently in the nation and has noted that some regions continue to uphold the 72-hour truce.
Despite the ceasefire, reports of gunfire and explosions have surfaced in both Khartoum and the nearby city of Omdurman. Volker Perthes, the UN special envoy to Sudan, noted that there is no clear indication that either party is prepared to engage in meaningful negotiations, indicating that both believe a military triumph over the other is feasible.
Initiated at midnight (22:00 GMT) on Monday, the ceasefire is the most recent effort to establish stability in Sudan following the outbreak of fighting between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on April 15th. As per reports, the conflict has already claimed the lives of at least 459 individuals, though the actual number is suspected to be much greater. Numerous individuals have fled Sudan, with thousands more expected to do so, prompting the UN to issue a warning.
There is also apprehension for those who remain in the country, as roughly 24,000 expectant women are anticipated to give birth in Khartoum in the upcoming weeks. Volker Perthes further revealed that numerous dwellings, hospitals, and other public amenities have been impaired or obliterated in residential localities near the army headquarters and airport in Khartoum as a result of the recent conflict.