The article examines the conflict in Khartoum State, highlighting severe human rights violations and detention practices by the RSF and SAF since April 2023. Civilian infrastructure is repurposed for military use, leading to catastrophic humanitarian consequences, including forced displacement and extreme violence. The shifting control dynamics further exacerbate risks for civilians, emphasizing the need for oversight and protection.
The conflict in Sudan, which erupted on April 15, 2023, between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has led to severe humanitarian crises in Khartoum City. Once a bustling capital with over nine million inhabitants, the urban area has now deteriorated into a battleground characterized by extreme human rights violations and breaches of international law. Civilians face unlawful killings, arbitrary detentions, sexual violence, and forced displacements, severely impacting their well-being and survival.
Control over Khartoum State has shifted since mid-2023, with the RSF dominating urban centers, often converting civilian spaces like homes and schools into military bases and detention facilities. The SAF retains control over strategic areas within the city, leading to ongoing violent confrontations, particularly as the SAF has launched offensives in September 2024 to reclaim crucial regions of the state.
This report investigates detention facilities operated by both the RSF and SAF, revealing the human rights abuses occurring within these sites through accounts from victims and witnesses. The ever-changing control dynamics in Khartoum complicate the environment, as civilian areas can rapidly become sites of detention depending on which group holds power. Such instability highlights the risks civilians face during the conflict, as well as the urgent need for oversight and protection of their rights. The report analyzes conditions in these facilities from April 2023 to June 2024, regardless of which party controls them at different times.
The analysis of detention practices in Khartoum State underscores the catastrophic impact of the ongoing conflict on civilians. The rapid shifts in territorial control complicate the humanitarian situation, exposing civilians to violations at the hands of both the RSF and SAF. The existence of detention facilities highlights the urgency for protection mechanisms and accountability to safeguard human rights amidst the violence. Ultimately, the perspectives of victims offer critical insights into the humanitarian crisis and the challenges faced.
Original Source: reliefweb.int
