Human Rights Group Alleges Torture Deaths by Sudan Army Amid Ongoing Conflict

Mon Oct 20 2025 19:58:17 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

A Sudanese rights organization claims the army operates "execution chambers" and has documented numerous torture-related fatalities in Khartoum.

The Emergency Lawyers group has accused Sudan's military of severe human rights violations, including murder through torture, amidst the ongoing civil war, leading to a humanitarian crisis that has displaced millions.

A prominent human rights organization in Sudan has issued alarming accusations against the country’s army and security forces, alleging they have committed acts of torture leading to death, which they describe as operating "execution chambers." The Emergency Lawyers group revealed that it has recorded hundreds of arrests in the capital, Khartoum, stating that in the most harrowing situations, detainees have been discovered dead, exhibiting signs of torture.

The army successfully regained control of Khartoum from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in March, igniting a fierce civil war that has resulted in numerous fatalities over the past two years. The military did not provide a response to the BBC's inquiry regarding these allegations.

Throughout the protracted conflict, both the army and the RSF have been implicated in various atrocities. In a recent statement shared on the social media platform X, the Emergency Lawyers group highlighted a "dangerous escalation in violations," revealing that some individuals were arbitrarily arrested and subsequently taken to massive detention facilities. The group alleged that the conditions were inhumane, with detainees facing trials lacking fundamental standards of justice and, in some cases, released in severely deteriorated health.

Historical context reveals that the use of torture was prevalent during the regime of former President Omar al-Bashir. Reports indicate that the RSF has also engaged in abuse and executions of captives. Furthermore, a UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan highlighted in March that both factions involved in the conflict were accountable for "a widespread pattern of arbitrary detention, torture, and ill-treatment of detainees," with incidents of sexual violence and arbitrary arrests reported as well.

The ongoing fighting has precipitated one of the most severe humanitarian crises globally, with 12 million individuals displaced from their homes and famine affecting various regions across the country. Recently, the medical organization Doctors Without Borders noted that the war has triggered the most severe cholera outbreak in Sudan in years, reporting nearly 100,000 cases and 2,470 related deaths over the past year.

For additional updates on the situation in Sudan, visit BBC Africa's news outlets on social media.