A recent video has surfaced showing the arrest of 35 civilians, including seven women and 28 men, in the Soba area south of Khartoum, Sudan. The footage, published on Facebook on July 24, 2026, depicts the individuals being seated on the ground, with their faces covered, and separated by gender. They are surrounded by armed personnel wearing black shirts with a uniform logo, some of whom are carrying Kalashnikov rifles.
The video shows a speaker identifying the arresting force as the Khartoum State Security Cell, which conducted raids in the Soba West, Soba Al-Hilla, and Soba Al-Aradi neighborhoods on July 19, 2026. The speaker claims the arrests targeted individuals cooperating with the Rapid Support Forces. The cell's actions have raised questions about their legal authority and adherence to basic detainee rights.
The location of the video was verified by the "Daleel" team through visual analysis and comparison with satellite images and geographic references. The footage was filmed in front of the Zakyia Awad Sati Girls' School, near the Soba West Police Station, in the Soba area south of Khartoum State. The video also shows a military four-wheel-drive vehicle, a "box" car with air conditioning units, and a truck loaded with various goods.
Research in open sources revealed that the names mentioned in the video match those of Lieutenant General Hussein Nuwai Al-Fadl, Director of Khartoum State Security, and Captain Mahi Al-Din Abd Al-Jawad Ghobash, Director of Khartoum Locality Security. The "Daleel" team verified their identities through open sources, including images, videos, and publicly available information.
The Khartoum State Security Cell was established under the Emergency Order No. 2, issued by the Khartoum State Governor on May 2, 2024. The order grants the cell extensive powers, including collecting and analyzing information, monitoring suspicious activities, and conducting raids and searches. The cell operates under the supervision of the State Security Committee, which includes representatives from the military, police, and general intelligence.
The video showing the arrested individuals and their description as "collaborators" with the Rapid Support Forces before being presented to judicial authorities has raised concerns about respect for the presumption of innocence and fair trial guarantees. The circumstances of their detention, including being seated in a public area, having their faces covered, and being separated by gender, have sparked concerns about human dignity and privacy.
The incident has been documented amidst reports of alleged human rights abuses attributed to the Khartoum State Security Cell, including arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance, and extrajudicial killings. Human rights organizations have called for an end to these abuses, ensuring respect for fair trial standards and preventing targeting of individuals based on ethnicity or geography.
Key points
- The video showing the arrest of 35 civilians in Sudan's Soba area raises questions about the security cell's authority and adherence to detainee rights.
- The Khartoum State Security Cell was granted extensive powers under Emergency Order No. 2, including conducting raids and searches.
- Human rights organizations have called for an end to alleged abuses attributed to the Khartoum State Security Cell.
