The Sudanese Alliance for Rights (SAR) strongly condemns the ongoing pattern of unlawful arrests and detentions perpetrated by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), including the Sudanese Security Forces. These actions represent egregious fundamental human rights violations and contravene national and international legal standards.
On Monday, February 24, 2025, an unidentified group arrested four doctors in Wad Madani, the capital city of Gezira State, according to reports from SAR. The detained medics were identified as Dr. Adam Mohamed Ibrahim, a surgical consultant held in Madani prison; Dr. Al-Sadiq Al-Makhoul, an internal medicine specialist; Dr. Nafisa Abdul-Rahman, an intern; and Dr. Khalid Al-Faki. The General Intelligence and Security Service has denied involvement in the arrests, while details surrounding the detention remain scarce and conflicting.
In response, the Sudanese Doctors’ Syndicate has called for an end to the targeting of medical professionals and healthcare facilities and anything that may hinder the provision of medical services. SAR later confirmed that two of the doctors, Dr. Adam Mohammed Ibrahim and Dr. Sadiq Al-Makhoul, were released on Tuesday, February 25, while Dr. Nafisa Abdul-Rahman and Dr. Khalid Al-Faki remain in custody. The continued detention of medical personnel without legal justification is a violation of both Sudanese law and international human rights treaties.
The arbitrary detention of civilians, including medical professionals, flagrantly breaches several international human rights instruments to which Sudan is a party. Article 9 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights explicitly states that no one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention, or exile. Similarly, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights affirms the right to liberty and security, stipulating that no one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest or detention. Additionally, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights guarantees that every individual shall have the right to liberty and security of person and prohibits arbitrary arrest or detention. The Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols further mandate the protection of medical personnel in times of conflict, reinforcing the need for Sudan to uphold these obligations.
Arbitrary detentions and enforced disappearances have become widespread in Sudan, particularly amid political instability and conflict. Human rights organizations, like Human Rights Watch, report that civilians, including activists and protesters, are often detained without legal basis, held incommunicado, and denied access to family or legal representation. In many cases, their whereabouts are concealed, subjecting them to the risk of torture or ill-treatment. These practices exacerbate fear and insecurity, violating both Sudan’s laws and international human rights standards, and leaving victims’ families in uncertainty.
In light of these grave violations, SAR calls for immediate and decisive action. The Sudanese authorities must release all individuals unlawfully detained for exercising their rights to freedom of expression, assembly, and association, including Dr. Nafisa Abdul-Rahman and Dr. Khalid Al-Faki. There must be thorough, transparent, and independent investigations into all allegations of arbitrary arrests, detentions, and related abuses, with perpetrators held accountable through fair legal processes. The Sudanese government must uphold its obligations under international humanitarian law and ensure that medical professionals can operate without fear of arrest or persecution.
Furthermore, the African Union, United Nations, and the international community must intensify efforts to monitor the human rights situation in Sudan, impose targeted sanctions against those responsible for violations, and consider deploying peacekeeping forces to protect civilians. The Sudanese government must also align its national laws with international human rights standards, ensuring protections against arbitrary detention and upholding the rule of law.
The Sudanese Alliance for Rights stands in solidarity with all victims of human rights abuses in Sudan and remains steadfast in its commitment to advocating for justice, accountability, and the restoration of human dignity. The continued crackdown on civilians, including medical professionals, cannot be tolerated. We call on all relevant actors to take immediate action to end arbitrary detentions and protect fundamental human rights in Sudan.
Sudanese Alliance for Rights
February 27, 2025