(RENK COUNTY) – A South Sudanese man who fled his homeland during the war of the 1980s has returned home after four decades, following months of imprisonment in Sudan where he says he was tortured and starved.
Daud Mahmoud Abdullah, originally from Aweil, left South Sudan in the mid 1980s during the long conflict for independence that claimed nearly 2 million lives. Now aged 60, he has returned after being released from a Sudanese prison this July. “I am alive,” he said after crossing into South Sudan, calling it a miracle after what he endured.
Sudan, once seen as a place of refuge, has been at war since April 2023. The civil conflict has killed around 40,000 people and displaced nearly 13 million, according to UN agencies. Abdullah had lived in Wad Madani, the capital of Al Jazirah state, about 135 kilometres south of Khartoum. When Sudanese armed forces launched a major campaign to retake areas from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), mass arrests followed.
Caught in this sweep, Abdullah was accused of collaborating with the RSF. He said he was beaten, tortured, and burned with cigarettes but never confessed. He was thrown into prison, where he saw inmates die daily from starvation, beatings, or disease. One morning, he counted 28 dead prisoners in his cell. Their bodies were left for days before removal.
His story mirrors that of other South Sudanese men detained in Sudan. Eight survivors interviewed described similar abuse. Cells were overcrowded, food and water were scarce, and torture was common. Michael Deng Dut, aged 29, said he was electrocuted more than 18 times. Another, Simon Tong, 39, showed scars on his arm, saying he had been cut with knives during interrogation.
Daily rations in prison were minimal, often just a handful of food and a small cup of water. Survivors said this caused many deaths.
In July, 99 South Sudanese prisoners were separated from others. By the time they were transported out on July 28, one had died, leaving 98. None knew where they were being taken until they reached the South Sudan border and were handed over to officials who took them to Renk, the northernmost town in South Sudan.
Renk has become the main transit point for South Sudanese nationals fleeing the war in Sudan. Since 2023, over 250,000 people have been moved from the border through an onward transportation programme organised by UN agencies and the South Sudanese government. However, the programme was suspended on 1 June this year because of global cuts in humanitarian funding.
Since then, the number of people stranded in Renk has swelled. The main transit centre, designed to host 2,000 people, now holds about 12,000. Families live in makeshift shelters built from sticks and cloth, facing shortages of food and water.
Renk Transit Situation
| Category | Intended Capacity | Current Situation |
|---|---|---|
| Transit Centre Population | 2,000 | 12,000 |
| People Assisted Since 2023 | – | 250,000 |
| Status of Programme | Active until June 1, 2025 | Suspended due to funding cuts |
For Abdullah, however, stepping into South Sudan brought relief despite the dire conditions. He was reunited with his wife, daughter, and younger brother in Renk. His family had fled south after repeated arrests of his younger brother in Sudan. “We did not expect to see him alive again,” his wife said with tears of joy.
Abdullah now hopes to return to Aweil with his family. He is still trying to reach relatives in Sudan to encourage them to come home. “If they come back safely, then we plan to go to Aweil. All of us, together,” he said.
