Report: Sudanese National Human Rights Observatory
El Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan State, is facing an escalating wave of grave violations against civilians. Field reports and video footage have documented the involvement of elements affiliated with the “Joint Forces”—loyal to the Sudanese Army—in committing extrajudicial killings and arbitrary arrests.
Assassination on a Public Road:
In a horrific incident reflecting the absence of accountability, a video clip documented members of these militias shooting an unarmed civilian youth as he was walking along a public road in the city. This treacherous attack resulted in the victim’s immediate death, sparking a state of terror and panic among passersby and local residents, in a crime for which there is no legal or military justification.
Arbitrary Arrests and an Unknown Fate:
In parallel with the assassination, these forces launched a widespread arrest campaign targeting a number of unarmed young men, who were taken away in handcuffs to illegal detention centers on allegations of “collaborating with the Rapid Support Forces.” These detainees currently face an unknown fate in the complete absence of legal procedures or fair trials, amid serious fears that they are being subjected to torture and ill-treatment within those centers.
Legal Characterization and Condemnations: What is happening in the city of Al-Abyad constitutes a flagrant violation of: * International humanitarian law: particularly the rules regarding the protection of civilians during armed conflicts. * International human rights law: which prohibits arbitrary detention and deprivation of liberty without legal justification.
Our Observatory team condemns these crimes in the strongest terms and views them as systematic targeting aimed at intimidating citizens and settling scores outside the justice system.
Urgent Appeal:
Our Observatory calls on the international community, the United Nations, and all human rights organizations to: * Immediately intervene to investigate the assassination and the documented arrest campaigns. * Exert pressure to ensure the immediate release of detainees and provide them with legal protection. * Hold those responsible for these violations accountable to ensure there is no impunity and to put an end to the targeting of unarmed civilians.
