Sudan Detention Crisis: SAF Security Cells & Human Rights Abuses

 

Sudan’s Detention Crisis: Allegations of Abuse, Torture, and Denial of Due Process

Sudan’s military leader, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, taking part in the launch of a program aimed at assisting the families of those killed or wounded in the ongoing civil war. © EBRAHIM HAMID/AFP via Getty Images. 

Why Are Sudanese Security Forces Facing Allegations of Arbitrary Detention and Torture?

The ongoing conflict in Sudan, which escalated dramatically in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has plunged the country into a devastating humanitarian catastrophe. Beyond active combat lines, a profound human rights crisis is unfolding inside detention facilities and ad hoc holding centers run by military authorities and security cells. Recent investigations by Human Rights Watch (HRW) and reports from United Nations bodies have revealed alarming allegations of arbitrary arrests, torture, severe starvation, and deaths in custody. This article examines the grave violations committed against detainees, the collapse of due process guarantees, and the urgent need for international accountability.

What Are the Severe Physical Conditions and Allegations of Starvation in SAF Detention Facilities?

Evidence collected by human rights monitors points to horrific conditions inside detention sites managed or overseen by state security cells and military intelligence. Detainees have reportedly faced severe physical deterioration, displaying signs of extreme emaciation and muscle wasting consistent with prolonged starvation.

• Overcrowded and Unsanitary Environments: Survivors describe being packed tightly into rooms with concrete floors and broken tiles, completely unfit for human habitation and devoid of basic hygiene standards.

• Deliberate Medical Neglect: Medical care is reportedly absent in many facilities, leaving detainees with untreated or severely infected wounds. Improvised setups such as hanging intravenous (IV) fluids above vulnerable individuals lying directly on concrete floors illustrate the critical and deteriorating health conditions of those held.

'The UN General assembly was subjected to the farce of the UAE, the key player in Sudan’s war, piously preaching about how the Sudanese people deserve peace, while its leaders are accused of arming the RSF, itself accused of genocide and ethnic cleansing'https://t.co/1pPFndz015

— Nesrine Malik (@NesrineMalik) October 1, 2026

 How Are “Security Cells” Operating Outside Standard Legal Frameworks?

Since the conflict began and as the army regained ground in parts of Khartoum, Omdurman, and eastern states, state governors established specialized "security cells". Comprising police, General Intelligence Service (GIS) officers, Military Intelligence, and allied groups such as the al-Baraa Ibn Malik Brigade, these cells operate with sweeping powers.

• Arbitrary Arrests Based on Suspicion: Individuals, including volunteers, medics, and civilians, have been detained arbitrarily primarily on suspicion of collaborating with the RSF or based on ethnic and political profiling.

• Incommunicado Detention: Authorities frequently transfer prisoners between hidden ad hoc premises and official military sites, blocking families and lawyers from tracking their whereabouts or securing legal representation.

What Happened in Gezira State Regarding Detainee Abuses and Reprisals?

Gezira State has become a primary focal point for documentation following military re-entries into areas previously held by the RSF.

• Targeted Reprisal Operations: Local monitors and human rights organizations have documented instances where individuals perceived as sympathetic or affiliated with opposing forces faced immediate summary actions, arbitrary roundups, and harsh interrogations.

• Contested Claims and Official Responses: While the Sudanese Armed Forces have issued statements condemning individual unauthorized violations and promising inquiries, civil society groups and international bodies emphasize that a lack of transparent judicial follow-up leaves victims without redress or protection.

Why Is Access to Legal Counsel and Due Process Vital for Detainees?

Under international human rights law and Sudan’s constitutional provisions, individuals deprived of liberty maintain fundamental due process rights. However, current practices systematically dismantle these safeguards:

• Denial of Fair Trial Guarantees: Detainees are routinely denied prompt access to independent lawyers, judicial oversight, and formal charges.

• Coerced Confessions: Reports indicate that physical abuse, beatings with sticks and whips, and psychological degradation are utilized during interrogations to extract forced confessions, which are subsequently used in flawed judicial proceedings.

These Abuses Constitute War Crimes Under International Humanitarian Law?

Independent international monitoring entities, including the UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for the Sudan and Human Rights Watch, have stressed the gravity of these systemic violations:

• International Legal Frameworks: Unlawful deprivation of liberty, torture, inhuman treatment, and willful neglect that leads to death in custody constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law.

• Pathways to Accountability: Depending on the widespread and systematic nature of the evidence, these abuses may amount to war crimes or crimes against humanity, elevating the legal responsibility of military and civilian commanders under international jurisdiction.

Frequently Asked Questions About Sudan’s Detention Crisis

What constitutes arbitrary detention under international law?

Arbitrary detention occurs when an individual is arrested and deprived of liberty without a clear legal basis, proper warrants, or adherence to due process rights, such as immediate notification of charges and prompt access to a judge and legal counsel.

Where are detainees being held by security forces in Sudan?

Human Rights Watch and local monitors have documented detainees being held in a combination of official military sites and undisclosed ad hoc detention facilities, including residential buildings repurposed by security cells in states like River Nile, Northern, Gedaref, and Red Sea state.

How are deaths in custody being documented?

International bodies like the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) have verified multiple deaths in custody resulting from torture, severe malnutrition, and medical neglect among individuals detained by various warring parties.

What role do regional and international actors play in seeking accountability?

Bodies such as the UN Human Rights Council, the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, and international human rights organizations are pressing for extended mandates, independent investigations, and targeted accountability measures against leadership responsible for systemic abuses.