The recent deportation of South Sudanese refugees from Sudan, which involved forcibly separating children from their parents, constitutes a grave violation of international law and a profound crime. We condemn the actions of the Sudanese government in Khartoum.
Many South Sudanese women were rounded up from the streets, detained and transported by bus to South Sudan. Tragically, they were deported without their children, who were taken to undisclosed locations. The intentions of the Sudanese government for these children remain unknown.
We appeal to the United Nations and human rights organizations to take immediate action. They must ensure the safety and well-being of these South Sudanese children and secure their reunion with their families. This action by Sudan violates both the rights of refugees and the fundamental rights of children.
The strained relationship between the governments in Juba and Khartoum is no excuse. The two countries have long accused each other of meddling in their internal conflicts. Khartoum alleges Juba supports the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan’s civil war, while Juba accuses Khartoum of backing South Sudanese opposition groups.
However, the Sudanese government must recognize that the South Sudanese refugees it is deporting are themselves victims of the regime in Juba, having fled a civil war that began in 2013. Sudan’s justification for these deportations – a lack of proper documentation – does not hold up. For years, Sudanese policy did not register these refugees, claiming they were “brothers and sisters” who could stay without formal status. To now deport them for the very documentation they were denied is a stark contradiction.
These refugees are not connected to the policies of Juba’s government. The Sudanese government must not take its diplomatic frustrations out on innocent people who are victims of that same regime.
This is not an isolated incident. In January 2025, the Sudanese Armed Forces committed atrocities against South Sudanese refugees, including a massacre in Wad Medani. Now, the government is perpetrating another inhumane act.
As a member of the United Nations, Sudan is obligated to uphold international law and the Geneva Conventions. This includes the fundamental principle of non-refoulement – not returning refugees to a place where their lives are in danger. South Sudan, from which these people fled a brutal civil war, remains that dangerous place.
These actions are human rights violations. South Sudanese refugees have suffered for too long in Sudan, enduring humiliation, rights violations and slaughter.
Enough is enough. If the Sudanese government fails in its duty to protect them, the United Nations must intervene and facilitate their relocation to safety. We call on the international community to ensure the safe return of these children to their families and to hold Sudan accountable for this cruelty.
The writer, Jwothab Othow, is an activist and critic of the South Sudan government. He can be reached at Jwothab@yahoo.com.
The views expressed in ‘opinion’ articles published by Radio Tamazuj are solely those of the writer. The veracity of any claims made is the responsibility of the author, not Radio Tamazuj.