The warring parties in Sudan, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), along with their allied groups, are tightening their grip on the war-torn population. Mohamed Chande Othman, Chairperson of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Sudan, warned that civilians continue to bear the brunt of the conflict, with violence escalating into a broader system of repression affecting nearly all aspects of life.
Dangerous Mobility
For many Sudanese families, even relocating has become a perilous act. The Mission has documented instances where civilians are stopped at checkpoints, accused of supporting opposing forces, and detained without due process. Individuals attempting to cross between areas controlled by different factions reportedly face arrest, ill-treatment, and enforced disappearances. Targets include journalists, humanitarian workers, traders, community leaders, and ordinary civilians trying to reach safer areas or sustain their livelihoods. Expert Member Joy Ngozi Ezeilo noted that civilians are increasingly pressured to demonstrate loyalty to, or even actively participate with, one of the warring parties for their safety, freedom, and economic survival.
Families Pushed into Deeper Crisis
Beyond acts of detention, researchers warn that extortion linked to arbitrary arrests is deepening Sudan’s humanitarian crisis. The Mission has documented cases where families are demanded to pay substantial sums for the release of detained relatives. Some reportedly face demands of around $40,000, sums considered impossible for households already struggling with conflict, displacement, and collapsing livelihoods. These practices also disrupt fragile local economies. In locations like El Fasher, El Obeid, Dilling, and Kadugli, traders crossing front lines face risks of arrest and abduction, reducing food access and exacerbating insecurity for already strained communities.
Disappeared Humanitarian Aid Workers
The Mission expressed grave concern over reports of over 70 individuals, including humanitarian aid workers, detained in El Geneina in May 2026 and not heard from since. The fate of those disappeared remains unknown. Researchers cautioned that the enforced disappearance of aid personnel extends far beyond the individuals affected. “No family should be left in silence and uncertainty while searching for their loved ones,” said Expert Member Mona Rishmawi. She emphasized that attacks on humanitarian workers undermine aid operations, cutting off access to life-saving assistance and putting entire communities at greater risk.
Detention Conditions Threaten Lives
Conditions in detention facilities controlled by both sides continue to be deeply alarming, according to the Mission. Detainees are held in overcrowded cells, facing inadequate food and water, poor sanitation, and limited medical care. Outbreaks of diseases, including cholera, have reportedly occurred in some facilities. Former detainees have described beatings, electric shocks, sexual violence, and prolonged solitary confinement. Thousands are believed to be held in inhumane conditions in facilities such as Nyala Prison in South Darfur. The lack of independent access to detention centers has made it increasingly difficult for families to obtain information, fueling fears of disappearances and deaths in custody.
Calls for Accountability
The Mission urged all parties to immediately cease arbitrary arrests and detentions, release those held without legal basis, and disclose the whereabouts of detainees. It also called for renewed international efforts to ensure independent access to detention facilities and accountability. Researchers warned that without action, patterns of abuse risk becoming further entrenched, leaving Sudanese civilians to endure a conflict where fear, uncertainty, and separation increasingly define daily life. Members of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Sudan were appointed by the UN Human Rights Council. They are not UN staff and do not receive payment for their work.
