HRW: Arbitrary Detention and Torture of Civilians in Sudan Army-Controlled Areas

Moatinoon
Human Rights Watch said that security and military forces affiliated with the Sudanese Armed Forces have carried out serious abuses against civilians, including arbitrary detention, torture, and other forms of ill-treatment in areas under their control, denying detainees due process and fair trial rights.

According to a report released from Nairobi, civilians were detained on allegations of cooperating with the Rapid Support Forces, particularly in areas retaken by the army since 2024. These accusations were often based solely on ethnicity, perceived political affiliation, humanitarian work, or residence in former RSF-controlled areas.

The organization warned that unlawful detention, torture, and ill-treatment may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Mohamed Osman, Sudan researcher at Human Rights Watch, said the army and its allies have carried out a campaign of intimidation and retaliation against those labeled as collaborators, describing testimonies from former detainees and families as painting “a grim picture of abuses fueled by impunity.”

Incommunicado Detention and Abuse
The report documented cases of incommunicado detention, restricting families’ ability to obtain information or contact detainees, and in some instances amounting to enforced disappearances. Oversight by prosecutors and the judiciary was found to be weak, with detainees often denied legal counsel. At least two deaths in custody due to torture and ill-treatment were reported.

The findings are based on interviews with 28 individuals, including former detainees, relatives, lawyers, activists, and a security officer, conducted between June 2025 and February 2026 across several Sudanese states.

Role of “Security Cells”
Human Rights Watch identified the involvement of so-called “security cells,” composed of members from the General Intelligence Service, Military Intelligence, and allied militias such as the Al-Baraa bin Malik Brigade, in carrying out unlawful detentions.

Women and Civilians Targeted
The report also highlighted the detention of hundreds of women accused of cooperating with the RSF based on ethnicity or residence, with at least 25 sentenced to death. Although army leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan ordered the release of 400 women in January 2026, lawyers say many remain detained without due process.

Darfuris and humanitarian workers, including volunteers running community kitchens, were also reportedly targeted.

Official Response
The report noted that Sudanese authorities, including the Sovereignty Council and the Attorney General’s office, rejected most allegations, insisting that detainees are held only in official facilities and under legal supervision.

Human Rights Watch urged Sudanese authorities to end arbitrary detention, release unlawfully held detainees, provide reparations, and allow independent monitors access to detention sites.

It also called for granting full access to the UN Fact-Finding Mission on Sudan and the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights.

The organization further urged international actors to press for accountability and support expanding the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court to cover all of Sudan.