International correspondent Clarissa Ward and her CNN team found themselves in a precarious situation while reporting from Sudan's conflict-ridden Darfur region.
According to Conservative Brief, Ward and her team were detained by a local militia for 48 hours while attempting to cover the displacement of over 100,000 people in Tawila, Sudan.
The reporting mission began with the goal of documenting the severe humanitarian crisis affecting more than 10 million displaced individuals and 26 million people facing acute hunger in Sudan. The situation rapidly deteriorated when the team reached their meeting point in Abu Gamra.
The CNN crew encountered an armed militia equipped with rocket-propelled grenades and heavy machine guns mounted on Toyota Land Cruiser trucks instead of their expected contacts. The situation immediately turned hostile, with the team's driver being taken away in chains to a local jail.
For several hours, the journalists endured intense questioning in a confined space without windows. The interrogators repeatedly demanded explanations about their presence and authorization to be in the area.
The team's ordeal intensified when they were transported deeper into Darfur, where they faced a display of power from a general and a security chief. The atmosphere remained tense throughout their detention.
Ward, demonstrating remarkable composure under pressure, attempted to appeal to her captors' humanity. Speaking in Arabic, she revealed her status as a mother of three young children, hoping to establish a human connection.
The situation became more complex when the security chief demanded personal contact information for the team's family members. In a concerning development, an English-speaking individual contacted the journalists' families from Port Sudan, delivering both assurances and veiled threats.
The team faced additional challenges during their 48-hour detention, including restricted access to basic necessities. Ward, being the only female member, encountered particular difficulties due to privacy concerns.
The current situation stems from a long-standing conflict that began in 2003, rooted in ethnic tensions and resource competition. The struggle between non-Arab groups and the Arab-dominated government has resulted in approximately 300,000 deaths and massive displacement.
Political instability following the 2019 revolution and subsequent 2021 coup has further complicated the situation. Despite international intervention and peace agreements, the region continues to experience significant unrest.
The conflict has created one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises, with nearly a quarter of Sudan's population displaced and millions facing severe food insecurity.
Ward described the most uncertain moment of their captivity when young fighters instructed them to unload their belongings, raising fears about potentially being abandoned or transferred to another group. The team maintained their composure despite the uncertainty. In a dramatic turn of events, the militia eventually announced their release. The general explained their initial suspicion of espionage had been resolved, allowing the team to depart.
