Five women and children return to Sudan after Syrian detention

Five Sudanese nationals who were detained in Syria for joining the Islamic State (ISIS) returned earlier this week. The five returnees, two women and three children, are the first batch to come back from the group of Sudanese citizens detained in northern Syria, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In a press statement by the ministry, they thanked the efforts exerted by Sudanese officials, adding that this was only possible because of the “continuous efforts made by the government of Sudan over several years, with the support and backing from the Syrian Arab Republic”.

They affirmed that Sudan would continue their efforts in returning all Sudanese nationals detained. The ministry’s statement gave no indication to the number of Sudanese nationals that were still detained in Syria.

Bilateral relations

Sudan’s Chairman of the Sovereignty Council and Leader of Sudan’s Armed Forces, Lt Gen Abdelfattah El Burhan, pledged his support in advancing diplomatic relations with Syria, following a meeting with the Syrian Chargé d’Affaires of the Syrian Embassy in Khartoum, Bisher Al-Shaar, on Thursday.

According to a press statement by the Syrian Embassy, El Burhan reportedly expressed his eagerness to expand cooperation with Syria, as well as “develop the prospects of joint cooperation” to serve the common interests of the two nations.

El Burhan also stated that Sudan would continue “the humanitarian aid bridge for the brothers in Syria”.

Al Shaar also thanked Sudan for their efforts to “support and back the Syrian people in facing the earthquake disaster”, adding that “days after the earthquake, the Sudanese army announced that it had sent humanitarian aid to Syria”.