Human Rights Watch Reports Widespread Abuses Against Civilians in Sudan Amid Ongoing Conflict

Human Rights Watch Reports Widespread Abuses Against Civilians in Sudan Amid Ongoing Conflict
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A report by Human Rights Watch has documented serious abuses against civilians in areas affected by Sudan’s ongoing conflict, including territories controlled by the Sudanese Armed Forces and allied groups.

According to the findings, civilians suspected of links to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been subjected to arbitrary detention, torture, enforced disappearance, and other forms of ill-treatment, particularly in areas recaptured by the army. The report indicates that some arrests were based on ethnicity, perceived political affiliation, or involvement in humanitarian activities.

Human Rights Watch said testimonies point to a pattern of reprisals against individuals accused of collaborating with opposing forces, carried out in a climate of limited accountability. Detainees were reportedly held incommunicado, with restricted access to legal counsel and minimal judicial oversight. The organization also cited deaths in custody linked to alleged abuse.

The findings are based on interviews conducted between June 2025 and February 2026 with former detainees, relatives, lawyers, activists, and a member of the security forces. Reported violations span several regions, including Khartoum, Al Jazirah, Al Qadarif, the Red Sea state, and Northern state.

The report highlights the role of informal “security cells” comprising members of security agencies and pro-military militias, which allegedly operate both official and unofficial detention sites outside formal legal frameworks.

Human Rights Watch also raised concerns over the treatment of women, noting that many have been detained on accusations of collaboration, sometimes linked to ethnic background or place of origin. It further documented the targeting of individuals from Darfur and western Sudan, describing patterns that may amount to discriminatory practices. Humanitarian workers were also reported to have faced detention and interrogation amid increasing restrictions on civil society.

The organization called on Sudanese authorities to release those arbitrarily detained and to allow independent monitoring of detention facilities, while urging international actors to press for accountability.

The report comes as Sudan’s conflict—ongoing since April 2023 between the army and the RSF—continues to generate widespread civilian suffering. Human Rights Watch and other groups have documented abuses by multiple parties to the conflict, underscoring the broader pattern of violations affecting civilians across the country.