PUBLICATIONS #human rights violations

The African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS), writes to the Commission to express our concerns and urge you to address the ongoing violations of human rights in Sudan marked by continued impunity. ACJPS is a non-profit, non-governmental organization working to monitor and promote respect for human rights and legal reform in Sudan.

ACJPS expresses deep concern over the increased targeting of civilians in Kasala by General Intelligence Services (GIS) Officers. We want to echo the residents' voices and demand that the authorities in Kasala hold the perpetrators of these violations accountable and bring them to book. In this release, ACJPS documents several incidents of grave human rights violations commited by GIS officers against civilians in Kasala.

ACJPS is concerned about the safety and well-being of Mr. Alfatih Ali, a humanitarian who was arrested by RSF in Nyala, South Darfur, and remains in detention to date. We call upon the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in South Darfur to guarantee his physical and psychological integrity while in detention.

The African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) has compiled the following legal terms and definitions to aid in legal education and raise awareness among victims of enforced disappearance and their families, as well as human rights activists working in this field, particularly in Sudan. These definitions serve as a foundational understanding for those navigating the complex legal landscape surrounding cases of missing and forcibly disappeared persons.

The international community has responded to the Sudan crisis with a range of measures, including humanitarian aid, diplomatic efforts, and investigations into human rights violations. Both the UN and ACHPR in the recent months have been increasingly active in their efforts to address the crisis in Sudan. For example, they have both issued several statements condemning human rights abuses and calling for an end to the violence, they have also established a mechanism to receive and document complaints of human rights violations from victims in Sudan.The United Nations and the African Union (AU) have both established fact-finding missions to investigate the conflict and document human rights abuses.

The African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) Condemns the continued use of sexual violence as a weapon of war. Women and girls have been, and continue to be, subjected to rape and gang rape, abduction and forced marriage. In this release, ACJPS has documented two incidents where two girls were abducted and subjected to sexual slavery in Nyala, South Darfur.

ACJPS is appalled by the horrific attacks in Elfashir, the capital city of North Darfur that has resulted in bloodshed and massive displacement of residents and IDPs. Since April 2024, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been trying to take over Elfashir. The siege of Elfashir has devastated the city's infrastructure and disrupted essential services. Damage to electricity and water facilities has left many areas without power or running water, with a severe impact on hospitals, schools, and other critical services. Hospitals that remain open are struggling with inadequate supplies to treat the influx of wounded civilians and many succumbing to injuries.

The 2023 power struggle that begun on 15th April between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has unleashed a wave of violence that has left thousands dead and millions displaced.The conflict has exposed a dark cloud, tending mostly to the systematic violation of the rights of war prisoners, the harsh realities faced by these individuals cannot be fathomed.

After the outbreak of war on April 15, 2023, mosques became legitimate targets for warring parties. Shelling targeted numerous Muslim imams who supported the cessation of war, leading to arrests. In Khartoum State alone, at least 12 mosques were shelled. Similar incidents occurred in El Geneina of West Darfur and El Fasher of North Darfur. On June 23, 2024, the RSF targeted the Altijania Sufi mosque in the Eltigania neighborhood of El Fasher, where residents had taken shelter.

Airstrikes, bombing, and shelling intensify as the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) continue to engage the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). During the month of September 2023, residents of Khartoum State witnessed some of the most intense gunfights between the warring parties.

The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), the African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) and the Sudanese Human Rights Monitor (SHRM), wish to draw your attention to the dire and precarious situation of women and girls in Sudan.

Ahead of the 79th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, as Sudanese and international civil society organizations, we express our deepest concerns regarding the grave and recurring violations of human rights committed by all parties in Sudan