The Sudanese Alliance for Rights decries the arbitrary arrest, torture, and enforced disappearance of six volunteers from the Central Emergency Room in Kadugli, South Kordofan State, by military intelligence units affiliated with the Sudanese Armed Forces’ 14th Infantry Division.
On 3, 4, and 11 May 2025, Ahmed Faisal Al-Zaki, Omar Ajabna Faransa, Abazar Daoud, Hassan Balandia, Mahdi Hammadi Kodi, and Mohamed Ismail—who were providing vital humanitarian assistance to civilians displaced by the ongoing conflict—were unlawfully detained, subjected to torture, and forcibly disappeared. Since their arrest, their families and legal representatives have been denied any form of contact or communication, raising grave concerns for their safety.
These acts constitute serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law, including:
- Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which guarantees the right to liberty and security of person and protects against arbitrary arrest and detention;
- The Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT), which Sudan is party to and which prohibits torture under any circumstances.
- The International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, which defines enforced disappearance as a crime under international law.
- The Geneva Conventions, particularly Common Article 3, which protects persons not taking part in hostilities, including humanitarian workers, from violence, cruel treatment, and outrages upon personal dignity.
Targeting humanitarian volunteers engaged in life-saving work is not only morally reprehensible but also a breach of Sudan’s obligations under these international treaties. The Sudanese Alliance for Rights condemns this blatant abuse of power and the increasing criminalisation of humanitarian and civil society efforts in conflict-affected regions.
We urgently call for:
- The immediate and unconditional release of the six detained volunteers;
- Full disclosure of their whereabouts and physical condition;
- An independent investigation into these violations and accountability for those responsible;
- Increased pressure from regional and international human rights mechanisms to halt the repression of humanitarian actors in Sudan.
The Sudanese Alliance for Rights stands in solidarity with all those working to alleviate the suffering of civilians and upholds the principles of justice, dignity, and accountability.
Sudanese Alliance for Rights
13 May 2025
