Sudan’s army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan on Friday ordered the immediate release of 400 female inmates from Omdurman Women’s Prison, many accused of collaborating with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), in a gesture amid the country’s protracted civil war.
The order came during an inspection visit by Burhan, chairman of the Transitional Sovereignty Council, to the prison west of the capital Khartoum.
In a post on X, Burhan announced he had directed authorities to free the women immediately, noting the group included mothers detained with their children. He added that all financial penalties linked to public-rights cases would be waived.
Burhan further instructed officials to reclassify cases legally and review the justice system for detainees accused of cooperating with the RSF to speed up litigation and protect their rights.
He described the steps as part of a comprehensive review of legal procedures to lessen the conflict’s impact, uphold the rule of law and consider Sudan’s exceptional circumstances.
War enters third year
Sudan remains gripped by deadly fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), led by Burhan, and the RSF, commanded by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (known as Hemedti), since April 2023. The conflict, sparked by disputes over integrating the RSF into the regular army, has killed tens of thousands, displaced millions and triggered one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, including famine in parts of Darfur and Kordofan.
Rights groups have documented widespread atrocities, with the RSF facing accusations of ethnic cleansing, mass killings and systematic sexual violence in Darfur, reminiscent of its Janjaweed militia origins.
Territorially, the RSF controls most of Darfur’s five states — except limited northern pockets in North Darfur — following the capture of El Fasher in late October 2025 after an 18-month siege. The SAF holds most of the other 13 states, including Khartoum (recaptured in early 2025), eastern regions and central areas, operating from Port Sudan.
Recent clashes have intensified in Kordofan, with drone strikes, sieges and mass displacement continuing into January 2026 as both sides vie for strategic ground.
Humanitarian gesture questioned
Burhan’s directive, though limited to a small number of detainees, appears aimed at projecting concern for humanitarian issues and judicial fairness amid growing international calls for peace and accountability. Diplomatic initiatives, including Saudi-mediated talks, persist despite accusations of foreign interference.
Critics question the measure’s reach — many detainees face RSF collaboration charges without completed trials — and whether it signals genuine reform or serves as public relations in a war marked by abuses on both sides.
For the 400 women, including mothers separated from young children in overcrowded conditions, the order provides rare respite in a conflict that has shattered countless lives. Implementation depends on Sudan’s strained, fragmented justice system.
