African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies ACJPS | المركز الافريقي لدراسات العدالة و السلام
(22 February 2022) The African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) has continued to monitor the continued crackdown on pro-democracy protests including killing of civilians and other human rights violations across Sudan since 25 October 2021.
In this report, ACJPS gives an update on various incidents resulting in serious violations of human rights of civilians that have continued to occur since our last update on the Sudan coup. The period covered is 25 October 2021 to 10 February 2022.
Authorities disrupted Mobile and Internet connectivity at 06:00am and 10:00pm on 25 December 2021. At least 3 people were reported missing by their families in Khartoum during the reporting period.
Security forces have continued to use excessive force to crackdown on protests. ACJPS has documented at least 82 protesters killed since the coup on 25 October 2021. Of the 82, 38 are from Omdurman, 3 Khartoum Bahari, 23 Khartoum, 3 Aljazeera state and the rest are from other parts of the country (see Annex 1). On 19 December 2021, security operatives reportedly raped 8 female protesters in Khartoum. In Omdurman and Khartoum, security forces fired teargas inside two hospitals on 6 January 2022, affecting both patients and medical workers in hospitals. On 6 January 2022, security forces fired teargas inside El-Sheikh Mustafa Alamin High school in Khartoum while students were sitting exams.
Joint security forces have continued to arrest and detain civilians for their participation or suspected involvement in the pro-democracy protests. Sudanese authorities have relied on powers of arrest provided for under the Emergency and Protection of Public Safety Act of 1997 and the Criminal Procedure Act 1991 to give effect to these arrests and continued detention. Arrests were made on the streets, and during raids in offices, homes and shops. In January 2022, 36 protesters in Khartoum, Omdurman and White Nile state were imprisoned without trial under the Emergency Act of 1997.
Sudanese authorities are charging political detainees with baseless charges. On 31 January 2022, 6 protesters in Kassala state were charged under Articles 139 (causing intentional wounds) and 182 (criminal mischief) of Sudanese Penal Code 1991 after court dismissed charges of public nuisance (article 77) against them. They were reportedly beaten with water pipes and subjected to hair shaving by Police officers before being released on bond.
Despite the Sudan acceding to key international treaties such as UN Convention against Torture, an inclusion of the criminal offence of torture under the Criminal Act in July 2020, impunity for human rights violations persists. The culture of human rights violations remains deeply engrained and needs to be urgently addressed. Security forces including RSF, known for its role in committing rights abuses in Darfur have continued to use lethal force against protesters.
The policing of assemblies must respect human rights and must be carried out in accordance with international standards, which prohibit the use of force unless strictly necessary and proportionate. Authorities should make it clear that arbitrary or abusive use of force by security forces will be punished as a criminal offence. We ask Sudanese authorities to cease violation of human rights of citizens guaranteed in the Constitutional Charter, Regional and international treaties ratified by Sudan.
We further call for:
- Immediate and unconditional release of all the remaining detainees and guarantee their physical safety and wellbeing including granting access to their lawyers, family members and medical services,
- Investigation into the abusive use of force including the killings and injuring of protesters with an aim to identify and hold perpetrators accountable.
- Investigate the reported torture and ill-treatment of detainees with the aim of holding perpetrators accountable and providing compensation for the violations.
- Ensure access to free treatment and rehabilitation to individuals injured through the violent dispersal by the authorities,
- End the use of excessive and unnecessary force including during the dispersal of peaceful protests,
- End the practice of blocking access to health care services and guarantee the right to health and life for all,
- Stop the criminalization of peaceful protests and guarantee the rights to peaceful assembly, free expression, liberty and security of persons and prohibition on torture and other ill-treatment,
- End the state of emergency and restore the constitutional order.
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