Enforced disappearance in Sudan occurs across diverse settings rather than in a single environment or fixed circumstances. It manifests in various contexts that differ in violence levels, the nature of involved actors, and the scope of targeting. Analyzing documented cases and testimonies reveals that understanding this phenomenon requires a dual perspective: one that differentiates political environments where these practices happen during times without major armed conflict, and conflict-related contexts, which show more cases and wider impact.
However, this distinction does not denote a strict separation; instead, it highlights a continuum in employing enforced disappearances as a tool, with changes primarily in scale and methods. The political context tends to be selective and ambiguous, while the conflict context involves broader, repeated actions. Despite differences, the fundamental purpose remains the same: to exclude individuals from legal protections.