The conflict in Khartoum, initiated on April 15, 2023, between the SAF and RSF, has resulted in severe humanitarian crises, including mass displacement and widespread infrastructure destruction. The RSF controls much of the state, using civilian structures for military purposes. This report focuses on the detention practices of both factions and the human rights violations that have transpired within such facilities from April 2023 to June 2024.
Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, became the focal point of conflict on 15 April 2023, due to hostilities between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Tensions surrounding security sector reform proposals escalated into violence marked by egregious violations of international human rights and humanitarian laws. Civilians have faced catastrophic consequences, experiencing mass displacement, infrastructure destruction, and a deepening humanitarian crisis, particularly from the urban warfare tactics deployed by both factions.
Since mid-2023, control of Khartoum State has increasingly shifted toward the RSF, which has utilized civilian buildings, such as homes and schools, as military bases and detention facilities. Despite this, the SAF retains control of key strategic locations, engaging in ongoing fierce battles to regain lost ground. These developments have led to intensified clashes, particularly noticeable with the SAF’s offensive maneuvers initiated in September 2024.
The report investigates the detention practices employed by both the RSF and SAF in Khartoum State, drawing on testimonies from victims and witnesses to expose the human rights violations occurring within these facilities. Territorial control has been erratic, resulting in a chaotic landscape where civilian areas may shift under different authorities. This report emphasizes the conditions faced within detention facilities, highlighting the ongoing risks to civilian protections amid the turmoil. It spans the timeline from 15 April 2023 to June 2024 and seeks to illuminate the pervasive nature of these human rights abuses, irrespective of fluctuating control of the territory.
The conflict in Khartoum, characterized by severe violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, has had catastrophic impacts on civilians. The RSF has established control over much of the area, converting civilian infrastructure into sites of military activity and detention. With frequent changes in territorial control, the conditions and existence of detention facilities reveal the persistent risks facing civilian populations amidst the violence. The report serves as a critical documentation of human rights abuses and the precarious state of civilian oversight during this ongoing conflict.
Original Source: reliefweb.int
