Sudanese Forces Accused of Torture and Arbitrary Detention, Rights Group Says

Sudan, April 8, 2026 - Forces affiliated with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have been accused of arbitrarily detaining and torturing civilians in areas under their control, as part of a broader campaign targeting perceived opponents, according to a new report by Human Rights Watch (HRW).

The report alleges that the military and allied groups, including the General Intelligence Service and the al-Baraa Ibn Malik battalion militia, have targeted individuals based on ethnic identity, humanitarian work, and political affiliation.

Based on interviews with 28 individuals conducted between June 2025 and February 2026, the report documents alleged abuses in several regions, including Khartoum, Gezira, Gedaref, Red Sea, and Northern states. Detainees were reportedly held incommunicado in military bases or residential buildings converted into detention facilities.

HRW said testimonies from former detainees, their families, and legal representatives describe a pattern of arbitrary arrests, ill-treatment, and a climate of impunity.

In response, the Attorney General’s office rejected allegations of widespread arbitrary detention and deaths in custody. Authorities acknowledged only a single case currently under criminal investigation and maintained that all detainees are being held legally under police supervision and oversight.

The report also indicates that individuals from Darfur have been disproportionately targeted, with some accused of collaborating with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has its origins in the region. Witnesses described cases in which detainees were beaten and accused of bringing the conflict to the capital.

Humanitarian workers have also reportedly been affected. Local volunteers providing aid services, including community kitchens, were subjected to interrogation and detention. In one case, an aid worker in East Khartoum was held for more than two weeks and questioned about funding sources following the army’s recapture of the area.

Despite a January 2026 directive by military leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan ordering the release of hundreds of women from a prison in Omdurman, rights monitors indicated that many remain in detention without due process. The report further notes that at least 25 women have been sentenced to death on charges of collaboration.