The situation in Sudan continues to deteriorate, with allegations of numerous atrocities including summary executions. As the BBC reports, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been accused of executing over 200 unarmed civilians in White Nile state. This incident was first reported by the Emergency Lawyers network.
According to the Sudan-based Emergency Lawyers, RSF fighters carried out systematic executions, kidnappings, enforced disappearances, and looting across villages in White Nile state during a three-day campaign. The targeted killings of civilians, described as “execution-style,” mark one of the deadliest reported episodes since the war erupted in April 2023. The RSF has yet to respond to the allegations.
The RSF, once allied with Sudan’s military under a post-coup transitional government, fractured with the army following a failed shift to civilian rule. The power struggle between army chief Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan “Hemedti” Dagalo—former allies turned rivals—ignited widespread violence, transforming the capital, Khartoum, into a battleground and displacing millions.
Both the RSF and military stand accused of atrocities, including indiscriminate shelling, sexual violence, and blockading aid. Famine warnings persist as humanitarian access remains severely restricted.
Violations of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR)
The reported atrocities committed by the RSF constitute serious violations of Sudan’s obligations under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR). Several key provisions of the Charter appear to have been breached:
- Right to Life (Article 4) – The mass executions of unarmed civilians violate the fundamental right to life. The ACHPR explicitly prohibits arbitrary killings.
- The Right to Dignity (Article 5) – Reports of torture and inhumane treatment violate the Right to Dignity.
- Right to Personal Liberty and Security (Article 6) – The abduction of civilians violates their right to security and protection from arbitrary detention.
- Right to Property (Article 14) – The widespread looting of villages contravenes the Charter’s protection of property rights.
- Right to Peace and Security (Article 23) – The targeting of civilians and destruction of communities undermine peace and security in the region.
- Right to Development (Article 22) – Mass displacement and destruction severely hinder Sudanese civilians’ socio-economic progress. The humanitarian crisis, including famine risks, further impairs fundamental development rights.
The allegations against Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) constitute severe violations of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR). Additionally, Sudan, as a signatory to the ACHPR, has an obligation to prevent such human rights violations and to ensure accountability. The African Union (AU) has a duty to intervene in the Sudan conflict under its founding principles and international obligations.
