CNN Team’s Chilling Two-Day Ordeal During Sudan’s Ongoing Crisis

CNN’s Clarissa Ward and her team were held captive for 48 hours by a militia in North Darfur.

At a Glance

CNN’s Clarissa Ward and her team experienced 48 hours of captivity under a militia in Darfur.
The team aimed to report on the humanitarian crisis by accessing Tawila in Sudan.
Militia suspicions of espionage led to their stringent interrogation and seclusion.
Ward highlighted the challenges of reporting amid Sudan’s ongoing conflict.

Journalists Face Harrowing Captivity

Clarissa Ward, CNN’s Chief International Correspondent, along with her crew members Scott McWhinnie and Brent Swails, endured a challenging 48-hour ordeal under militia control in North Darfur, Sudan. The team had ventured into the region to shine a light on the dire humanitarian conditions in Tawila, but instead found themselves detained and accused of espionage. The crew faced rigorous questioning without receiving any details regarding the identity or motives of their captors.

Militia commander, referred to as the “general,” suspected them as spies, leading to their outdoor detention underneath acacia trees. Some militia members guarding the detainees appeared as young as 14. Ward, as the sole female, struggled with privacy issues, choosing to limit her consumption of food and water during the harsh outdoor confinement.

Tweets by nimaelbagir

Intense Interrogation and Environmental Strain

Throughout their captivity, the CNN crew faced armed guards and lack of clarity about their fate. The militia contacted family members of the captives, assuring their safety but warning against discussing the situation. Ward later expressed the harshness of the experience: “For the next 48 hours, we were held under armed guard by the general, the security chief and roughly a dozen soldiers, some who looked no older than 14. Our detention was spent out in the open, underneath acacia trees.”

Ward’s pleas during their interrogation reflected her desperation, especially as a mother of three. The situation finally shifted when the general and security chief informed the crew of their looming release, explaining that initial suspicions of espionage had been dismissed.

Spotlight on Sudan’s Humanitarian Crisis

The encounter served to highlight the extreme dangers journalists face while reporting on unfolding humanitarian disasters worldwide. Clarissa Ward emphasized the significance of covering Sudan’s troubles amidst intensifying civil conflicts and humanitarian distress. The current conflict that began in April 2023 has led to widespread violence throughout Darfur, contributing to over 20,000 deaths and further endangering millions of civilians.

“We thought you were spies but now you can go home,” the general remarked upon their release, pointing to the unpredictable nature of conflict zones. Despite the fraught circumstances, Ward and her team expressed their commitment to reporting on the region, drawing crucial attention to Sudan’s humanitarian plight.