by Our Foreign Affairs Editor
A recent United Nations report has unveiled deeply troubling human rights violations in Khartoum State, Sudan, exposing a systematic pattern of arbitrary detention, torture, and inhumane treatment by both the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). The findings paint a stark picture of suffering, highlighting the plight of tens of thousands of detainees, including women and children, who have been held without charge in squalid and overcrowded facilities since the conflict erupted in April 2023.
Detainees have recounted harrowing experiences of torture, including severe beatings, electric shocks, and other degrading treatment. The conditions within these detention facilities are dire, with extreme overcrowding, lack of ventilation, inadequate sanitation, and insufficient food and water. These factors have contributed to high mortality rates among detainees, with many perishing from untreated medical conditions. Particularly disturbing are reports of children as young as 14 being recruited as guards by RSF forces, while others as young as 13 have been detained alongside adults. Women detainees have also faced sexual violence and exploitation in RSF-controlled facilities, further amplifying the gravity of the violations.
The report details how both factions have used detention as a weapon of war, detaining individuals based on ethnicity and perceived political affiliation. In RSF-controlled facilities, detainees from African tribes, particularly those from Darfur and Kordofan, have been subjected to more frequent torture. Similarly, in SAF-controlled sites, individuals from these regions have been targeted under accusations of affiliation with the RSF. These discriminatory detentions have led to further ethnic divisions, exacerbating an already volatile conflict. Detainees held in SAF-run facilities have described cruel treatment, including prolonged isolation and beatings, particularly targeting individuals suspected of loyalty to the RSF.
The UN report sheds light on the methodical nature of detentions, with checkpoints serving as initial sites where civilians are stopped, interrogated, and often brutalized before being transferred to transit facilities. From there, many are sent to larger detention centres, such as the notorious Soba prison or the Al-Riyadh complex in Khartoum. Victims recount being blindfolded and transported in packed vehicles, often beaten en route. The systematic nature of these operations suggests a deliberate strategy by both factions to intimidate, silence, and punish those perceived as adversaries.
Families of the detained have been left in the dark about the fate of their loved ones, with many experiencing the anguish of enforced disappearances. One case documented in the report tells of a family desperately searching for their relative, only to be repeatedly told, “Don’t ask about him.” Months later, they learned he had died in detention. The lack of accountability and transparency surrounding these detentions raises serious concerns about the rule of law and human rights protections in Sudan. The inability of families to obtain information about detained relatives violates fundamental principles of due process and human dignity.
The treatment of detainees inside these facilities has reached appalling levels. Overcrowding has led to dire sanitary conditions, with detainees forced to endure days or even weeks without access to clean water or proper toilet facilities. In Soba prison, detainees described being packed into cramped cells where sleeping space was so limited that many were forced to sit upright throughout the night. Food supplies were often inadequate, consisting of small portions of plain rice or porridge, leading to malnutrition among detainees. Witness accounts also describe how prison guards intentionally withheld food as a form of punishment, particularly after failed escape attempts or perceived infractions.
Medical care is virtually non-existent in these detention sites. Those suffering from chronic illnesses, such as diabetes or hypertension, are routinely denied medication, leading to preventable deaths. One former detainee described how sick prisoners were left to die, their bodies sometimes remaining in cells for hours before being removed. In the absence of trained medical personnel, some detainees attempted to care for the ill using rudimentary methods, but without proper supplies, their efforts were largely futile. The report highlights instances where detainees died from dehydration and infections that could have been easily treated under normal circumstances.
Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of the report is the documented cases of extrajudicial killings. Detainees in RSF facilities have recounted witnessing fellow prisoners being executed, particularly those accused of collaborating with the opposing side. One survivor described how RSF guards would single out individuals for questioning, and those who failed to provide satisfactory answers were taken away, never to return. Testimonies suggest that executions were often carried out publicly to instil fear among the remaining detainees. Similarly, in SAF-run facilities, reports indicate that detainees have been tortured to death or shot after being accused of aiding the RSF. These systematic killings highlight a complete disregard for human life and underscore the brutality of the ongoing conflict.
Even as the SAF has regained control over certain areas, the UN Human Rights Office has documented RSF efforts to transfer detainees from known facilities to undisclosed locations. In January 2025, reports emerged of detainees being moved from Soba prison in Khartoum to various sites, including South Darfur. Such actions heighten fears of further abuses and complicate efforts to track and support those unlawfully detained. The relocation of prisoners to new, undisclosed sites is likely a strategic attempt to evade scrutiny and accountability, making it even harder for families and human rights organisations to advocate for the detainees’ release.
The use of forced labour within detention facilities has also been reported. In Al-Riyadh complex, detainees were forced to clean facilities, cook meals for RSF personnel, and even dig graves for fellow prisoners who had died. Those who refused to comply faced severe beatings or prolonged solitary confinement. In some cases, detainees were reportedly forced to transport weapons and supplies under armed guard, placing them at further risk. The exploitation of detainees in this manner violates multiple international conventions prohibiting forced labour and further illustrates the extent of the abuses occurring within these facilities.
The UN report does not merely document atrocities but also calls for urgent action. It demands an immediate end to arbitrary detention, torture, and ill-treatment, urging all parties to improve detention conditions and uphold international human rights standards. It further calls on the international community to intervene and engage with Sudanese authorities to put an end to these widespread human rights violations. The report urges independent monitoring of detention sites and the establishment of legal mechanisms to ensure accountability for those responsible.
This damning report is a chilling reminder of the human cost of Sudan’s ongoing conflict. The stories of those detained serve as a stark testament to the urgent need for accountability, justice, and protection for all civilians. Without immediate and decisive action, thousands more will continue to suffer in silence, their fates unknown, their rights violated, and their dignity stripped away. The international community cannot afford to turn a blind eye to these abuses, and concrete steps must be taken to hold perpetrators accountable, ensure the safe release of detainees, and restore a sense of justice to those who have suffered under this brutal system of detention.
