In the last few weeks, dozens of lawyers, doctors, and activists have been detained, tortured, and killed around Sudan by both fighting parties, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). During this period, arbitrary arrest campaigns intensified around the country. The whereabouts of hundreds of detainees are unknown, as they remain at risk of torture, unfair trials, and execution. Lawyers in different states face unprecedented crackdowns impacting the detainees’ right to legal aid.
– In the past weeks, dozens of lawyers, doctors, and activists have been detained, tortured, and killed around Sudan by warring parties.
– Civic space, communications networks, and access to humanitarian services have been curtailed.
– We call on the warring parties to cease fire immediately and facilitate humanitarian aid, justice, and honour human rights.
– The international community must demand an end to violence, facilitate protection, pursue justice mechanisms, and support local humanitarian efforts.
Background
The Sudanese Sovereign Council reinstated the Sudanese National Security Laws last May, specifically, the infamous laws used by the former regime to suppress civic freedoms and punish human rights activists. The law was suspended following the 2018 revolution that toppled the former regime. Several local state governors issued emergency decrees granting arrest and interrogation authority to joint forces created following the war. The joint forces include military intelligence, police, and national security. The de facto government in PortSudan escalated its activities following the powers vested with joint forces in the areas under SAF’s control.
Emergency Lawyers, a watchdog group monitoring rights abuses in Sudan, has accused General al-Burhan’s military intelligence of ethnically profiling and unlawfully detaining civilians for alleged ties to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).https://t.co/pvLUb7bSgz
— The Sudan Times (@thesudantimes) July 26, 2024
Some of the lawyers, activists, volunteers, and journalists detained and tortured have been subjected to unfair trials and received either imprisonment sentences of two years or more or execution. RSF has detention centres with their areas of control around Sudan, where thousands of civilians and activists have been detained for months. Detainees inside RSF areas are facing execution, torture, and inhumane treatment. The militia continues to target and kill doctors, journalists, and activists in their areas of control.
Killing and Detention by RSF
Journalist Tarik Abdullah was arrested by the RSF in Khartoum in late May and taken to an unknown place. In different areas in Khartoum, healthcare professionals were targeted and arrested by RSF. In Ed Babikir area in Khartoum, RSF arrested large numbers of residents and took them to unknown locations, where some detainees were reported killed following torture. The arrest campaign followed an attack on the areas, where at least seven civilians were killed. In Aljazeera state, the militia killed and arrested dozens of civilians whose whereabouts remain unknown.
In Omdurman, Ahmed Sidig, a member of the Umma Party, was arrested by the RSF for more than three weeks, and he was taken to an unknown location. Dr. Mohamed Elhassan Muslam was killed following a raid on his house on July 16th by the RSF. In Alhalba village, west of Eldowaim city in White Nile state, the RSF killed Dr. Anas Abduallah while on duty following a raid on the hospital. Dr. Abd Alhamid Toufiq has been detained by the RSF inside Suba prison since November 2023. He was the medical director of Jabal Awlya Hospital and was arrested during an RSF attack on the area.
