Statement of Concern on the Arbitrary Arrest and Enforced Disappearance of East Nile Emergency Room Volunteers

The Sudanese Alliance for Rights expresses grave concern over the arbitrary arrest, physical abuse, and enforced disappearance of three volunteers from the East Nile Emergency Room—Mujahid Awad, Tariq Adil, and Sameer Ibrahim—who were detained between 25 and 26 April 2025 by a security cell affiliated with the Al-Nasr neighborhood in East Nile, Khartoum.

These individuals were apprehended without due process, subjected to beatings, and forcibly transferred to an undisclosed location. To this day, no official justification has been provided for their detention, and neither their families nor legal representatives have been granted access to them. The continued silence from the authorities has heightened fears for their safety, including the possibility of extrajudicial execution.

These acts represent serious violations of Sudan’s obligations under international and regional human rights law, including:

• The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which guarantees protection against arbitrary arrest (Article 9) and prohibits torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment (Article 7).
• The Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT), which obliges Sudan to prevent acts of torture and ensure accountability.
• The African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, particularly Articles 5, 6, and 7, which protect the rights to dignity, liberty, security of person, and fair trial.

The targeting of volunteers engaged in relief efforts during a time of conflict is deeply troubling and unjustifiable. Such actions contribute to an environment of fear and further instability at a time when communities are already facing immense hardship.

The Sudanese Alliance for Rights calls on the relevant authorities to:

1. Immediately and unconditionally release Mujahid Awad, Tariq Adil, and Sameer Ibrahim.
2. Disclose their whereabouts and ensure their safety and well-being.
3. Guarantee access to legal representation and family communication.
4. Conduct an independent investigation into the arrests and hold those responsible to account.
5. Uphold Sudan’s commitments under international and regional human rights law.

We stand with the victims and their families and renew our call for justice, accountability, and respect for human dignity across Sudan.

Sudanese Alliance for Rights30 April 2025