HUDO Centre: Sudan Blue Nile Torture Fears, Denied Lawyer Access

• The Human Rights and Development Organisation (HUDO Centre) has raised fears of torture for eight civilians arbitrarily detained in Sudan's Blue Nile state.
• These individuals, arrested by the Joint Security Cell between October 12 and 17 in Roseires, are being held without access to lawyers or family.
• Arrests are linked to suspicions of collaboration with the SPLA-N and tribal affiliations, occurring amidst a widening security crackdown.
• Detainees include a Red Crescent volunteer, a finance ministry employee, and an individual previously acquitted after three months of detention.
• HUDO Centre urges Sudanese authorities to ensure detainee safety and access to legal counsel, while also appealing to the international community for intervention.

The Human Rights and Development Organisation (HUDO Centre) has voiced serious concerns regarding the welfare of at least eight civilians recently detained in Sudan's Blue Nile state, highlighting fears of torture and the complete denial of access to legal representation and family members.

The Human Rights and Development Organisation (HUDO Centre) has voiced serious concerns regarding the welfare of at least eight civilians recently detained in Sudan's Blue Nile state, highlighting fears of torture and the complete denial of access to legal representation and family members. These individuals were apprehended by the Joint Security Cell (JSC) in Roseires between October 12 and October 17, as detailed in an urgent appeal issued by HUDO Centre on October 19. The organization reports that all detainees are being held without any contact with lawyers or relatives, raising significant alarm about their safety and fundamental rights amidst a broadening security operation in the region.

Among those taken into custody are El Rayah Younis Babiker, a 54-year-old employee of the Humanitarian Aid Commission, who is also identified as the brother of a leader within the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-North (SPLA-N) faction led by Abdelaziz El Hilu, who also serves as the Vice Chairman of the Government of Peace and Unity. Bakri Mahmoud, 42, an employee of the state Land Administration, is another detainee; he had previously endured over three months of detention before being acquitted by a court. Other individuals include construction worker El Baqir Saad, 45; driver El Fateh Awad El Nour, 33; and Elgeily Abdalla Jabir Bamsika, 32, a volunteer with the Sudanese Red Crescent. The list further includes finance ministry employee Elsir Mohammed Eltour, 42, his 28-year-old relative Abduelbasit Kamal Mohammed Eltour, and Jubara Abdalla, for whom no specific reason for arrest has been provided.

The arrests in Sudan's Blue Nile state are reportedly based on suspicions of collaboration with the SPLA-N, a claim that the HUDO Centre has brought to light. Credible sources cited by the organization indicate that the detainees are currently being held at a security facility located within the 4th Infantry Division in Damazin, the state capital. The detention of El Baqir Saad, for instance, is reportedly linked to his work on a property belonging to Ahmed Shambal, identified by HUDO Centre as an SPLA-N faction member.

Further complicating the situation, a community leader informed HUDO Centre that all eight detainees belong to the Hamag tribe. This tribal affiliation is significant as it is also shared by Mac Abu-Shotal, a commander in the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The organization suggests that the intensified wave of arrests in the Blue Nile region is connected to the occupation of Guisan and Kurmuk localities by TASIS, asserting that civilians are being targeted due to their tribal affiliations, family relationships, or perceived connections to leaders of armed groups. This pattern of Sudan arbitrary detention in Blue Nile underscores a concerning trend of human rights violations.

In response to these grave developments, the HUDO Centre has issued an urgent plea to Sudanese authorities. The organization demands immediate measures to ensure the safety of the detainees, prevent any form of torture or other ill-treatment, and grant them prompt access to legal counsel, necessary medical care, and family visits. These calls directly address the critical issue of Roseires detainee rights Sudan, which appear to be severely compromised.

Furthermore, HUDO Centre advocates for the release of all individuals subjected to arbitrary detention or, alternatively, their appearance before an independent and competent court. The organization also insists on impartial investigations into all alleged abuses. Beyond national authorities, HUDO Centre has called upon the international community, including United Nations mechanisms and other human rights organizations, to exert pressure on Sudanese authorities. The objective is to ascertain the whereabouts and welfare of the detainees and to prevent any further human rights violations in the Blue Nile state.

Lawyers advising clients with interests or operations in Sudan, particularly the Blue Nile state, must be aware of the heightened risk of arbitrary detention by the Joint Security Cell, the denial of legal counsel, and the potential for torture. This situation necessitates advising clients on robust human rights due diligence and risk mitigation strategies, and for human rights lawyers, it highlights urgent cases requiring monitoring and potential intervention regarding detainee welfare and access to justice.

Source: Original reporting via HUDO Centre