Sudden Raids in Khartoum
Eyewitnesses report that plain-clothes officers swept through Khartoum’s streets and homes, detaining more than one hundred South Sudanese women within hours. Many, including Nyakuc Akol, said doors were forced open and questions about identity documents preceded immediate arrest.
Sudanese authorities have not issued a public explanation, but detainees were reportedly told that residence without proper documentation contravenes a new security directive.
Journey to Joda Border Post
After a night in detention, the women were placed on buses bound for the Joda crossing that links Sudan to South Sudan’s Upper Nile State. Escorts logged their names and arrived at the frontier around 7:00 p.m.
Lieutenant Hassan Salah Balal, accompanying the convoy, told local media his orders were to hand over the group, then return anyone separated from children so reunification could occur before final relocation.
Local Authorities React
Renk County commissioner Diing Deng Lueth impounded the buses, describing the separation as inconsistent with humanitarian norms. He urged Khartoum and Juba to form joint committees, citing the presence of a South Sudanese embassy in Port Sudan that could coordinate orderly returns.
Legal and Diplomatic Context
An estimated tens of thousands of South Sudanese remain in Sudan more than a decade after independence, many lacking clear residency status. The new deportations highlight regulatory uncertainty as both nations seek to manage population movements amid ongoing security and economic pressures.
South Sudan’s Foreign Minister Monday Semaya Kumba met Sudan’s ambassador to discuss citizen protections, though the official statement stopped short of addressing the mothers still stranded at Joda.
Voices of the Deported
“I came empty-handed, only this sari,” said Akol, who left a three-year-old and a nine-year-old behind. Another deportee, Lucia Kur, cried that her nine children were her sole responsibility after losing other relatives.
Their testimonies, carried by Sudans Post, underscore fears that younger family members have been relocated to unknown sites, fueling anxiety across communities on both sides of the border.
Outlook for Stranded Families
Lieutenant Balal signaled willingness to drive back for the children once clearance is obtained, yet logistical and legal hurdles persist. Humanitarian observers note that timely coordination between border officials and embassy staff will be decisive for family unity and migrant welfare.
For now, the impounded buses remain parked in Renk, a visible reminder of the delicate balance between border control and basic human ties that transcend official paperwork.