The African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS)

This report aims to shed light on the situation of human rights defenders in Sudan during the armed conflict that has extended from April 2023 to date, with a focus on the threats and violations faced by activists, volunteers, and humanitarian, health, and human rights workers. The report is based on field reports and direct testimonies from victims and witnesses, as well as information monitored by a documentation team that adheres to confidentiality to ensure the safety of sources.

ACJPS expresses deep concern for the safety of civilians in Babanusa city as renewed clashes started between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in June 2025 over control of the town. These ongoing conflicts have placed residents in a very difficult humanitarian situation.

Ahead of the UN Human Rights Council’s 60th session (8 September-8 October 2025), we, the undersigned civil society organizations, write to urge your delegation to support a mandate extension for the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) for the Sudan.

In this release, ACJPS documents an incident where four male IDPs were attacked, wounded, and killed by a group of RSF fighters while travelling from Nyala to Alsalam IDP camp.

The humanitarian situation of civilians in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur State, has continued to worsen since our last update. This decline is a direct result of the lack of interventions from both Sudanese war parties: the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), and their allied military groups fighting alongside each of them.

ACJPS is deeply concerned about the well-being of civilians, especially business owners abducted and forcibly disappeared by the RSF in Nyala, South Darfur.

Uganda currently hosts 1.8 million refugees from various nationalities, including South Sudanese, Rwandans, Congolese, and Sudanese, who have been in and out of Uganda since 1955 and 2016 due to security issues in their respective countries.

July 2025 marked a significant escalation in the armed conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), spreading to new areas and resulting in increased civilian casualties.

The deteriorating living conditions of residents of El Fasher indicate that the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has reached a critical stage, necessitating urgent intervention by the international and regional community, as well as organizations like the International Red Cross (IRC) and the World Food Program.

Although Sudan has laws and regulations criminalizing human trafficking, there is a significant gap between the legal framework and its actual enforcement. Weak protection systems, insufficient psychological and social support for victims, and low public awareness all contribute to this crime remaining hidden and ongoing.

ACJPS appeals to all concerned parties, governments, international organizations, civil society, the private sector, and media to unify efforts against this heinous crime of human trafficking and restore freedom and dignity to victims of human trafficking and protect potential victims.

During the attacks, the IDPs were particularly targeted, for example, in Zamzam Camp, which was established in 2004, at least 3,000 IDPs lost their lives, 8,000 were injured, and there were several cases of sexual violence.