Two Sudanese nationals remain unaccounted for in separate incidents near the Sudan–Central African Republic border, with one reportedly disappearing while travelling to a refugee camp and another allegedly detained and handed over to Russian forces operating in the country.
Local Sudanese media reported on Thursday that the incidents occurred around Um Dafuq and the Birao refugee camp in northeastern Central African Republic (CAR), an area where residents have repeatedly reported arrests, disappearances and insecurity along cross-border routes.
According to community sources cited by local Sudanese media, Bakhit Osman, a Sudanese refugee living in Birao, disappeared last week while returning from Um Dafuq through the southern Tarvila route.
Osman had reportedly travelled to Um Dafuq in July to work in agriculture in the Goz Sharmout area, leaving his children at the refugee camp.
He was returning to reunite with his family when contact was lost.
His children subsequently searched Birao and surrounding communities but were unable to locate him. Acquaintances in Um Dafuq reportedly confirmed that he had left the town approximately a week earlier.
In a separate incident, Sudanese residents in Birao said Mahdi Ahmed, a tuk-tuk driver, was arrested inside the refugee camp shortly after arriving from the Sudanese side of the border.
According to the accounts, a woman from Um Dafuq on the CAR side accused Ahmed of previously cooperating with Seleka rebel forces during the period when the town fell under their control.
Residents alleged that Ahmed was subsequently transferred to Russian Wagner-linked personnel supporting the CAR government.
His current location, the circumstances of his reported detention and the identity of those holding him remain unconfirmed.
The incidents come amid continuing security concerns along the Um Dafuq–Birao border corridor, where multiple armed groups and government-aligned forces operate.
Local residents have previously reported the disappearance of traders and herders, allegations of arbitrary detention, livestock theft, commercial looting and the collection of illegal payments along routes connecting Sudan with refugee settlements in CAR.
Birao hosts thousands of Sudanese who fled the fighting in Darfur, while the surrounding frontier remains an important crossing point for civilians, agricultural workers and traders.
Russian-linked forces have also faced previous allegations of abuses against Sudanese nationals in the border region.
The Sudan Times previously reported allegations that Russian personnel killed three Sudanese miners travelling from goldfields inside CAR, following other reported incidents involving Sudanese civilians. Those allegations could not be independently verified.
Residents of Um Dafuq have called for authorities to establish the whereabouts of the two men and strengthen security along the routes connecting the Sudanese border town with refugee settlements in CAR.
Neither the circumstances of Osman’s disappearance nor the reported detention and transfer of Ahmed to Russian personnel has been independently verified.
