Blue Nile: Arbitrary Arrests Target Civilians for Family Ties

• Civilians in Sudan's Blue Nile region are being arbitrarily arrested based on alleged family or tribal links to the RSF or SPLM-N.
• Specific individuals have been detained, blindfolded, taken to unknown locations, and reportedly subjected to torture.
• Many detainees have been held for one to two years without investigation or charges, leading to enforced disappearances and families being unaware of their relatives' whereabouts.
• The Civil Society Initiative condemns these actions, warning they threaten peace, deepen grievances, and undermine social cohesion.
• The initiative urges authorities to disclose detainee locations, release those without legal grounds, and calls on international bodies to investigate these severe human rights violations.

Lawyers specializing in international human rights law or humanitarian law should monitor these reports of arbitrary arrests, torture, and enforced disappearances in Sudan's Blue Nile region, as they indicate severe violations of due process and international norms, potentially impacting advocacy efforts or legal aid for victims.

The Civil Society Initiative operating within Sudan's Blue Nile region has issued a strong condemnation regarding a series of arbitrary arrests targeting civilians. These detentions are reportedly based on tenuous suspicions of family or tribal affiliations with either the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) or the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) faction led by Abdelaziz El Hilu, who also serves as the vice chairman of the Government of Peace and Unity. This pattern of arrests suggests a concerning trend where individuals are apprehended not for their own actions, but for perceived connections to armed groups. Ali Hajo, the Secretary-General of the Civil Society Initiative, conveyed to Radio Dabanga that specific individuals, including Elrih Younis Babiker, Elbagir Elamin Saad, and Jabara Abdallah, were apprehended in El Roseires. These individuals were reportedly blindfolded and transported to undisclosed locations, raising immediate concerns about their safety and legal rights. Disturbing reports have also surfaced indicating that these detainees have been subjected to torture during their captivity. The scope of these arrests extends across various areas of the Blue Nile state, encompassing Ed Damazin, El Roseires locality, Wad El Mahi, and Geisan locality. A particularly distressing aspect of these operations is the frequent lack of information provided to families, leaving them unaware of their relatives' whereabouts. This situation effectively constitutes enforced disappearances, a severe violation of international human rights law. Furthermore, some individuals have reportedly been held for periods ranging from one to two years without any formal investigation or the presentation of charges, highlighting a profound disregard for due process.

The persistent practice of arbitrary arrests, coupled with reports of torture and enforced disappearances, constitutes severe violations of fundamental human rights and international legal standards. The targeting of civilians based solely on alleged family ties to armed factions, rather than individual conduct, directly contravenes principles of individual responsibility and fair trial. Such actions create an environment of fear and insecurity, eroding public trust in legal institutions and the state's commitment to justice. International human rights law unequivocally prohibits arbitrary detention, torture, and enforced disappearances. The prolonged detention of individuals for up to two years without investigation or charge, as reported in the Blue Nile region, represents a clear breach of the right to liberty and security of person, as well as the right to a fair trial within a reasonable time. The denial of access for families and legal counsel further exacerbates these violations, preventing any oversight or challenge to the legality of the detentions. These systematic abuses, as documented by the Civil Society Initiative, underscore a critical breakdown in the rule of law within the affected areas. Lawyers specializing in international human rights law or humanitarian law should monitor these reports of arbitrary arrests, torture, and enforced disappearances in Sudan's Blue Nile region, as they indicate severe violations of due process and international norms, potentially impacting advocacy efforts or legal aid for victims. The pattern of targeting individuals through family association also raises questions about collective punishment, which is prohibited under international humanitarian law.

The Civil Society Initiative has explicitly warned that these widespread arbitrary arrests, coupled with allegations of torture and enforced disappearances, pose a significant threat to the fragile peace in the Blue Nile region. Such actions are likely to deepen existing grievances among the populace and severely undermine social cohesion, making reconciliation and stability more challenging in the long term. The targeting of civilians based on family ties risks alienating entire communities and fueling further conflict. Beyond the direct impact of detentions, the overall security and humanitarian situation in Blue Nile is reportedly deteriorating rapidly. Displaced populations are confronting extremely dire conditions, and there are alarming reports of drone attacks specifically targeting civilian areas, including residential homes. These broader issues compound the suffering of the local populace and highlight the urgent need for intervention and protection. In response to these escalating concerns, the initiative has issued an urgent appeal to the authorities. They demand the immediate disclosure of the whereabouts of all detainees, the release of any individuals held without legitimate legal grounds, or their prompt presentation before a court of law. Crucially, they also call for unrestricted access for families and legal representatives to those detained. Furthermore, the Civil Society Initiative has implored international human rights organizations, the United Nations, and other global bodies to launch investigations into these alleged violations and to provide essential assistance for the protection of civilians. They reiterate a call for an immediate halt to all arbitrary arrests and for the authorities to uphold the rule of law, ensuring the protection of all civilians, irrespective of their identity or family affiliations.

Lawyers specializing in international human rights law or humanitarian law should monitor these reports of arbitrary arrests, torture, and enforced disappearances in Sudan's Blue Nile region, as they indicate severe violations of due process and international norms, potentially impacting advocacy efforts or legal aid for victims. Compliance officers should note the heightened human rights risks for operations or personnel in the area.

Source: Original reporting via Radio Dabanga