Sudan Army allies accused of torture and arbitrary detentions

Forces aligned with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have arbitrarily detained, tortured, and otherwise abused civilians in areas under their control, often denying them due process, Human Rights Watch said.

The rights group reported that the military and affiliated security units have carried out a “campaign of retaliation” against individuals accused of collaborating with the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has itself been accused of committing widespread violence. Civilians have frequently been targeted based on ethnicity, perceived political affiliation, or involvement in humanitarian work. Those detained were often held incommunicado, with families given little or no information about their whereabouts; in some cases, the detentions amounted to enforced disappearances.

The report, based on interviews conducted between June 2025 and February 2026, documents cases in Khartoum, Gezira, Gedaref, Red Sea, and Northern states, including areas recently retaken by the army. According to the findings, civilians were detained on suspicion of aiding the RSF, often without evidence. Interviewees described arrests driven by ethnic profiling, particularly targeting people from Darfur, as well as activists and aid workers. In some cases, detainees were held in unofficial facilities, including private homes “converted into detention sites” or military installations, where they were subjected to beatings, humiliation, and prolonged interrogation.

Human Rights Watch said at least two deaths in custody were linked to torture or ill-treatment. Witnesses reported that these units carried out raids and detentions with little judicial oversight. Authorities, however, maintained that such operations were lawful and subject to prosecutorial review. Former detainees described severe mistreatment, including beatings with sticks, whips, and metal objects, as well as denial of food and medical care and prolonged isolation.

The report also found that Darfuris were disproportionately targeted, with some detainees told they were responsible for bringing the conflict to other parts of the country. Human Rights Watch raised additional concerns over death sentences handed down to civilians accused of “collaboration,” citing violations of fair trial standards, including lack of access to legal counsel. The group urged Sudanese authorities to end arbitrary detention, ensure due process, and allow independent monitors access to detention facilities.

Since the conflict in Sudan began in April 2023, both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF have faced serious allegations of violating international law. Evidence from multiple credible sources indicates involvement in war crimes, crimes against humanity, ethnic cleansing, and possible acts of genocide.

Findings from the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) indicate that a climate of impunity has enabled ongoing abuses. Documented violations include strikes on densely populated areas, camps for displaced people, hospitals, markets, and educational institutions. Reports also describe ethnically motivated executions and repeated attacks on healthcare services.

Human Rights Watch, particularly in its World Report 2025, attributes significant responsibility to the RSF for committing war crimes and crimes against humanity. Among the abuses cited is the intentional use of starvation as a method of warfare. The humanitarian toll has been severe, with more than 10.8 million people displaced internally and around 25 million facing acute food insecurity. A report by the U.S. Department of State concludes that both SAF and RSF forces have engaged in war crimes. It further noted that RSF forces and affiliated militias have committed crimes against humanity, ethnic cleansing, and genocide. In a report released February this year, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said “there are reasonable grounds to believe the RSF has committed war crimes.”

The latest Human Rights Watch report adds to a long and growing body of evidence documenting widespread human rights violations in Sudan over the past three years. Despite repeated attempts to negotiate ceasefires, these efforts have consistently collapsed before taking hold, allowing the conflict to intensify and spread across the country.