Sudan’s Port Sudan Prison in Crisis: Detainees Held for 18 Months Without Trial, Water Shortages Reported
Sudan’s largest detention facility in Port Sudan is facing what lawyers call a humanitarian and justice crisis, with over 1,600 detainees living in harsh conditions and enduring prolonged trials.
According to Emergency Lawyers, the situation worsened after attacks on nearby military sites heightened fears among prisoners. Rehab Mubarak, a lawyer with the group, said the facility fails to meet minimum safety and justice standards.
She criticised delays in court proceedings, noting that while Sudanese law allows a maximum of six months’ detention before trial, many prisoners have been held for over a year and a half. Trial sessions are often postponed, sometimes up to 40 days apart, violating international fair trial norms.
Mubarak added that 250 prisoners are on death row, including 75 accused of links to the RSF. She argued that many were targeted for political or tribal reasons, with some convicted based only on private phone messages expressing opposition to the war.
The prison is also grappling with a severe water crisis after its desalination plant broke down. Inmates now drink saline water diluted with imported supplies, while the broader city of Port Sudan struggles with limited clean water access as a Nile River water supply project continues to falter.
Since the war began, Port Sudan has become Sudan’s administrative capital, hosting key state institutions, including the judiciary and public prosecution. However, rights advocates warn the ongoing detention and justice crisis could spark further grievances in the city.
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