Four Sudanese human rights organisations have issued a joint statement marking the one-year anniversary of the fall of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur. The statement calls for the protection of civilians, independent investigations into alleged crimes, and accountability for those responsible. The organisations, including the Sudanese Human Rights Monitor and the African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies, stress that ending impunity requires independent and transparent investigations, accountability based on evidence, and guaranteed humanitarian access.
The organisations expressed concern over the growing use of ethnic rhetoric, hate speech, and incitement to violence and revenge in the region. They warned that such language poses a direct threat to social cohesion and risked fuelling further violence. The groups urged the warring parties, political and military leaders, community representatives, and media organisations to reject incitement to violence, discrimination, and collective revenge.
The siege of El Fasher, which came under a large-scale assault in late October 2025, resulted in numerous credible reports of serious violations against civilians. These include killings, detention, torture, widespread sexual violence, looting, and the destruction of infrastructure essential to civilian life. The organisations also expressed concern over the humanitarian crisis in Darfur and Kordofan, which is worsening as a result of fighting and displacement.
The four organisations called for investigations into incitement to crimes and accountability for those responsible, in accordance with the law and available evidence. They stressed that criminal responsibility is individual and must not be attributed to entire population groups or used to justify collective punishment on ethnic or political grounds. They also demanded independent investigations into deaths in custody and allegations of torture, ill-treatment, enforced disappearance, and arbitrary detention.
The organisations called on those controlling detention facilities to disclose where detainees are being held and the grounds for their detention. They also urged the relevant authorities to disclose investigation findings, recommendations, and the outcomes of referrals for judicial proceedings. The signatories expressed concern that the findings of several announced investigative committees examining serious violations and incidents during the war had not been published.
The humanitarian crisis in Darfur and Kordofan is worsening due to fighting, displacement, and the near-total collapse of essential infrastructure. The organisations called for unjustified obstacles to aid deliveries to be removed, including security and logistical restrictions, administrative and bureaucratic delays, and restrictions on the movement of aid workers and supplies. They condemned attacks on relief trucks carrying assistance to people facing starvation.
The organisations stressed the need to investigate crimes and violations and hold accountable anyone found responsible for committing them. They also stressed that victims have the right to know the truth and the fate of missing people, and to access effective remedies and reparations. These should include compensation, rehabilitation, and guarantees against the recurrence of violations.
Key points
- Four Sudanese human rights organisations have called for independent investigations into alleged crimes and accountability for those responsible in a joint statement marking the first anniversary of the fall of El Fasher.
- The organisations expressed concern over the growing use of ethnic rhetoric, hate speech, and incitement to violence and revenge in the region.
- The humanitarian crisis in Darfur and Kordofan is worsening due to fighting, displacement, and the near-total collapse of essential infrastructure.
