CNN’s Clarissa Ward Reveals Harrowing 48-Hour Captivity in Darfur

Reporting Mission Turns into Nightmare

Veteran CNN correspondent Clarissa Ward, known for her fearless reporting in conflict zones, recently shared details of a terrifying ordeal while covering the ongoing civil war in Sudan. Ward, alongside cameraman Scott McWhinnie and producer Brent Swails, was held captive by a militia in North Darfur for 48 hours. The team had traveled to the region to report on the humanitarian crisis, where more than 26 million people are facing famine due to the escalating conflict.

The Ambush in Darfur

Shortly after arriving in North Darfur, the CNN team found themselves in a life-threatening situation. Armed fighters, led by a man known only as “the general,” surrounded the crew. As the militia aggressively warned them not to film, tensions quickly escalated. Brent Swails, trying to de-escalate the situation, was interrupted when the general fired a rifle into the air, startling the group.

Ward expressed her relief that the gun wasn’t aimed at them but noted the erratic behavior of their captor. “I was relieved that the gun wasn’t pointed at us but still disturbed by his erratic behavior,” she wrote in her account for CNN.

A “Clawing Sense of Panic”

During the 48-hour detention, Ward and her team endured intense interrogation by the militia, which operated outside the control of the Sudanese government. She described the emotional toll of the experience, saying, “Sleep, when it came, was a mercy, a reprieve from the clawing sense of panic at not knowing when I would be able to see my children again.”

The militia accused the CNN team of being spies, heightening the danger. Guards, some as young as 14, constantly watched over them as they were held outdoors under acacia trees.

Detained While Attempting to Cover the Humanitarian Crisis

Ward and her team were on their way to Tawila, a town that has become a refuge for over 100,000 people displaced by the fighting in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur. Located just 32 miles from the frontline, the town is controlled by the Sudan Liberation Movement’s neutral faction (SLM-AW). The CNN crew had arranged to meet with representatives of this group to report on the dire situation.

However, upon reaching the meeting point in Abu Gamra, they found no sign of their hosts. Instead, they were intercepted by a rival militia armed with rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns. The team’s driver was taken away in chains, while Ward, McWhinnie, and Swails were interrogated for three hours in a small, windowless room. “We answered their questions but got no information in return: who these men were or what they wanted with us,” Ward recalled.

The Long Wait for Freedom

As the hours of uncertainty dragged on, Ward tried to appeal to her captors on a personal level by revealing that she was a mother. In response, the militia’s security chief demanded the phone numbers of their loved ones. The captors then contacted their partners, warning them that while their loved ones were safe, they would face long-term imprisonment if the situation was made public.

For nearly two days, the team remained under constant surveillance by armed guards. Eventually, their captors left for several hours. When they returned, the militia leaders informed the CNN team that they no longer believed them to be spies and would allow them to leave. The release marked the end of what Ward described as “the most harrowing two days of my life.”

Reflecting on the Ordeal

Reflecting on the experience, Ward emphasized that while journalists strive to avoid becoming part of the story, their ordeal shed light on the dangers of reporting in conflict zones. “Our experience is instructive in understanding the complexities of the conflict in Darfur and the challenges of getting food and aid to those who need it most, as well as getting the story out to the world,” she concluded.

The team’s harrowing journey underscores the risks faced by journalists and highlights the immense humanitarian needs in conflict-ridden regions like Darfur, where millions are struggling to survive amidst violence and chaos.