Press Statements

Press Statement on Attacks Against Civilians and Civilian Objects in Nyala and Khartoum

According to reports, the night market at Tangoj Station in the Domaya area, west of Nyala in South Darfur, and a residential neighbourhood in the city were subjected to two drone attacks attributed to the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) on 26 October 2026. These attacks followed a similar attack on the city’s livestock market on 16 October, which claimed the lives of at least four people.

Reports also indicated that the Al-Markhiyat electricity substation, northwest of Omdurman, was attacked by drones attributed to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on 27 October 2026.

The two attacks in Nyala resulted in a large number of casualties. According to reports, Nyala Teaching Hospital received the bodies of at least 36 people and more than 150 injured individuals.

The attack on the Al-Markhiyat substation caused extensive damage, putting the facility out of service and disrupting electricity supplies across large areas. This was preceded by the killing of three children aged between two and six in a drone attack, also attributed to the RSF, on the Burri and Imtidad Nasser areas near Khartoum Airport on 19 October.

Sudanese Human Rights Activists – Norway strongly condemns these attacks attributed to the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, which resulted in dozens of deaths and injuries, including among women and children, and caused damage to civilian infrastructure, raising serious concerns about violations of international humanitarian law.

The organisation emphasises that targeting civilians and civilian objects is prohibited under international humanitarian law, and that the possible presence of military objectives in populated areas does not relieve parties to the conflict of their obligations to comply with the principles of distinction and proportionality and to take all feasible precautions to protect civilians. It further stresses the need to protect electricity and water facilities and other essential civilian infrastructure, and to take into account the humanitarian consequences of attacks against such facilities.

The organisation calls for:

An immediate cessation of unlawful attacks against civilians and civilian objects, and refraining from launching attacks that endanger civilian lives and safety.

Respect for the rules of international humanitarian law by all parties to the conflict.

An independent and impartial international investigation into the attacks attributed to the Sudanese Armed Forces, the Rapid Support Forces and their allied forces.

The determination of legal responsibility and accountability for perpetrators of violations and crimes established through investigations, ensuring that they do not enjoy impunity.

Guaranteed access to humanitarian and medical assistance for victims and affected populations.

Protection of healthcare facilities, essential service infrastructure and humanitarian workers.

The organisation calls upon relevant regional and international actors to exert pressure on both parties to the conflict to end the war, while intensifying their efforts to protect civilians and ensure respect for international humanitarian law.

The organisation reiterates its condemnation of all violations committed against civilians in Sudan and affirms that protecting their lives and rights is a legal obligation that must not be subordinated to military or political considerations.

No to war. No to attacks against civilians. No to impunity. Yes to peace, justice and respect for human rights.

Sudanese Human Rights Activists – Norway
Oslo – 30 October 2026

Press Statement on Attacks Against Civilians and Civilian Objects in Nyala and Khartoum Read Post »

/ General Updates, Press Statements
General Updates, Press Statements, , , , , ,

Statement on the First Anniversary of the El Fasher Massacre and the Hosting of the Official Spokesperson of the Tasis Alliance in Norway

Sudanese Human Rights Activists – Norway (SHRA) expresses its deep concern over the hosting of Ahmed Taqad Lisan, the official spokesperson of the Tasis Alliance, at a public dialogue event scheduled for Friday, 30 October 2026, at a time when serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law continue in Sudan and the need for justice for victims, accountability, and an end to impunity is increasingly urgent.

The event coincides with the first anniversary of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) attack on the city of El Fasher on 26 October 2025, which was accompanied by mass killings, extrajudicial executions, sexual violence, arbitrary arrests, torture, arbitrary detention, and the forced displacement of civilians. This anniversary represents a profound wound in the collective memory of the Sudanese people and demands truth, justice for victims and survivors, and accountability for those responsible, without exception.

The United Nations Human Rights Office has concluded that violations committed by the RSF during the attack on El Fasher amount to war crimes and that some acts may also constitute crimes against humanity. Amnesty International has also concluded that crimes against humanity were committed and documented practices consistent with ethnic cleansing in the city and other parts of North Darfur.

SHRA affirms that freedom of expression and dialogue are fundamental rights that must be respected and protected for everyone. It emphasizes their importance as a foundation for peace and maintains that the exercise of these rights does not preclude criticism or human rights accountability. At the same time, these freedoms must not be used to justify serious violations or diminish the suffering of victims and survivors.

In this context, SHRA believes that hosting representatives of alliances associated with parties involved in the armed conflict requires event organizers to take into account the gravity of documented violations, provide opportunities for critical questioning and public scrutiny, and ensure that the voices of victims and survivors are not marginalized or overshadowed by one-sided narratives that disregard their rights and demands for justice.

SHRA extends its condolences to the families of the victims and reiterates its condemnation of all violations committed by parties to the conflict in Sudan, including the Rapid Support Forces, the Sudanese Armed Forces, and forces allied with either side. The organization emphasizes that responsibility for international crimes must be established on the basis of evidence and independent investigations, without selectivity, immunity, or impunity.

Accordingly, SHRA calls for:

First: Placing the protection of civilians and the rights of victims and survivors at the forefront of all dialogues and initiatives concerning Sudan.

Second: Ensuring that organizers of public events related to the Sudanese conflict provide meaningful opportunities for human rights scrutiny and accountability, and refrain from justifying, denying, or downplaying violations.

Third: Supporting independent investigative mechanisms and competent international and national justice mechanisms, and ensuring that all those responsible for international crimes are held accountable on the basis of evidence and through fair legal proceedings.

Fourth: Working towards an immediate end to attacks against civilians, ensuring unhindered humanitarian access, and supporting efforts to end the war and achieve peace founded on respect for human rights and the rule of law.

No to war, violations, and impunity. Yes to peace, justice, the protection of civilians, and a democratic civilian state.

Sudanese Human Rights Activists – Norway (SHRA)

26 October 2026

Statement on the First Anniversary of the El Fasher Massacre and the Hosting of the Official Spokesperson of the Tasis Alliance in Norway Read Post »

/ General Updates, Press Statements
General Updates, Press Statements, , ,
1200 800

Statement on the Egyptian Airstrike in Sudan’s Red Sea State

On Saturday, October 10, 2026, Egyptian military aircraft carried out an airstrike on artisanal gold mining sites in the Jabal ‎Al‑Uqaydat area of Sudan’s Red Sea State. The attack resulted in the killing of 72 civilians and the injury of 120 others, with ‎estimates suggesting that the death toll may exceed 100. The strike also caused extensive destruction to civilian property.‎


The Sudanese Human Rights Activists – Norway expresses its profound sorrow for the loss of Sudanese civilians in this ‎attack, and extends heartfelt condolences to their families. We wish a full and speedy recovery for the injured, and reaffirm ‎that the protection of civilians must remain an absolute priority under all circumstances.


The Sudanese Human Rights Activists – Norway strongly condemn this attack, affirming that the targeting of civilians and ‎local economic infrastructure constitutes a crime that must not go unpunished. The organization stresses that the attack ‎represents a direct violation of Sudan’s sovereignty and the rights of Sudanese civilians, and a grave breach of ‎International Humanitarian Law (IHL), International Human Rights Law (IHRL), and the Articles on Responsibility of ‎States for Internationally Wrongful Acts (ARSIWA). The attack further exacerbates the already dire humanitarian ‎situation in Sudan, which is facing one of the worst crises in the world.‎

This incident marks the second Egyptian attack on Sudanese territory in 2026. A previous large-scale ground operation ‎carried out by Egyptian forces -comprising approximately 60 armed vehicles- on Sunday, June 21, in Sudan’s Red Sea State, ‎resulted in the shooting of three civilians, the arrest of 67 Sudanese nationals, and the beating and ill-treatment of ‎detainees. Survivors were forced to delete photos and videos, and their phones were confiscated to prevent ‎documentation.‎

Cross-border attacks on populated civilian areas directly violate fundamental principles of international law, including:


1- Article 51 of the UN Charter/ Prohibition of Use of Force, which makes any military operation inside Sudan without the ‎consent of Sudanese authorities or without a legitimate act of self-defense an unlawful use of force.

2- The 1949 Geneva Conventions, particularly the rules protecting civilians during armed conflict.

3- The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), especially provisions concerning the right to life and ‎the prohibition of arbitrary attacks on personal safety.

4- Customary international law, which prohibits unjustified attacks on the territory of another state without legal ‎authorization or a clear and proportionate defensive justification.

5- The principle of non-intervention under the UN Charter, which prohibits states from using force within the territory of ‎another state without legal grounds.

6- The principle of respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, a peremptory norm of international law (Jus Cogens).

7- The principle of distinction and the principle of proportionality, core rules of IHL that prohibit targeting civilians or ‎civilian infrastructure under any circumstances.

Accordingly, the organization holds the Egyptian government internationally responsible for this attack and calls for the ‎immediate and permanent cessation of all military operations inside Sudanese territory. The organization further urges ‎Egypt to respect its international obligations and ensure that such violations do not recur.

The organization calls on the international community, including the United Nations, the African Union, and the European ‎Union, to take a clear and firm stance against this aggression and put pressure on the Egyptian authorities to ensure the ‎protection of Sudanese civilians from future attacks.

The Sudanese Human Rights Activists in Norway affirm their commitment to monitoring and documenting these ‎violations, and to working with partners in Europe, Egypt, and Sudan to ensure accountability and to defend the rights of ‎Sudanese civilians against external and internal abuses alike.

This includes monitoring the situation of Sudanese nationals inside Egypt, where our sources report incidents of ‎harassment against Sudanese workers following the killing of two Egyptian citizens in Sudan. In this context, we extend ‎our sincere condolences to the families of the deceased Egyptians, call for calm and restraint, and urge that justice be ‎pursued for all.

As the Sudanese community continues to suffer from war and displacement, the organization calls on the UNHCR and its ‎partners to fulfill their responsibilities toward Sudanese refugees and asylum seekers during these difficult times.

Sudanese Human Rights Activists – Norway
14 October 2026

Statement on the Egyptian Airstrike in Sudan’s Red Sea State Read Post »

/ General Updates, Press Statements
General Updates, Press Statements, , , , , ,

Press Statement on the Attacks on Hospitals in Al-Jabalain, El Daein, and Al-Kurmuk

Sudanese Human Rights Activists – Norway (SHRA) strongly condemns the recent attacks on healthcare facilities in Al-Jabalain, White Nile State; El Daein, East Darfur State; and Al-Kurmuk, Blue Nile State. The reported incidents are detailed below.

1- Attack on Al-Jabalain Hospital, White Nile State
On Thursday, 2 April 2026, a drone attributed to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) attacked the operating theatre and maternity ward of Al-Jabalain Hospital.
The attack resulted in at least 10 deaths, including seven medical personnel, one of whom was the hospital director, and an as yet undetermined number of injuries. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), which was conducting a childhood vaccination campaign at the hospital, assisted in transferring approximately 20 of the injured to Kosti.
Local reports indicated that the hospital director, who was performing an operation at the time, was among those killed in the attack.

2- Attack on Al-Usra Hospital, El Daein, East Darfur State
On the same day, Thursday, 2 April 2026, Al-Usra Hospital in El Daein was attacked by a force also attributed to the Rapid Support Forces.
Patients and medical staff were assaulted and expelled from the hospital, while all medical devices and equipment in the facility were looted and destroyed, forcing the hospital to cease operations.
This attack came less than two weeks after a drone attributed to the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) attacked El Daein Teaching Hospital, resulting in more than 60 deaths, including women, children and healthcare workers, and approximately 90 injuries.

3. Attack on Al-Kurmuk Hospital, Blue Nile State
On Wednesday, 25 March 2026, Al-Kurmuk Hospital, the only hospital in the city, was attacked by a force also attributed to the Rapid Support Forces.
Healthcare workers were assaulted, with one staff member sustaining critical injuries. Medicines and medical equipment were looted and destroyed, and staff and patients were forced to leave the hospital and the attack caused mass displacement from the city.

Sudanese Human Rights Activists expresses its profound regret over these repeated attacks on healthcare facilities and calls on both the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces to immediately cease these irresponsible and unethical attacks.

These attacks violate Article 12 of the First Geneva Convention concerning the protection of the wounded and sick; Articles 18 and 19 of the Fourth Geneva Convention concerning the protection of civilians in time of war; and Rules 1, 14, 25 and 28 of customary international humanitarian law.
Each of these attacks constitutes a war crime under Article 8, paragraph 2(b), of the Rome Statute [1] [2].

We reiterate our demands to the United Nations and the international community to take the following measures:

A. Expedite the establishment of an independent international investigation into these incidents, under the supervision of a competent United Nations mechanism.
B. Support and strengthen accountability mechanisms to hold those responsible for ordering or carrying out the attacks accountable in accordance with international standards of justice.
C. Support and strengthen documentation and field monitoring efforts.
D. Provide immediate protection for civilians in conflict areas and ensure that drones or explosive weapons are not used in populated areas.
E. Facilitate humanitarian access to the wounded and survivors, and ensure the protection of medical personnel.

We further call on the international community to:

A. Exert pressure and take effective action to stop these violations.
B. Support victims and displaced persons.
C. Impose sanctions on those responsible for serious crimes and violations.

Justice for the victims, accountability for the perpetrators, and the protection of civilians above all else.

Sudanese Human Rights Activists
Oslo – 5 April 2026

[1] First Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded and Sick:
Article 12 – Protection and care of the wounded and sick: Wounded and sick members of the armed forces and other persons must be respected and protected in all circumstances.
Article 18 – Protection of hospitals: Civilian hospitals organized to provide care for the wounded and sick, the infirm and maternity cases must under no circumstances be the object of attack.
Article 19 – Discontinuance of the protection of hospitals: The protection to which civilian hospitals are entitled shall not cease unless they are used to commit acts harmful to the enemy, outside their humanitarian duties. The care of sick or wounded members of the armed forces in these hospitals, or the presence of small arms and ammunition taken from such combatants and not yet handed over to the appropriate service, shall not be considered acts harmful to the enemy.
https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/ar/ihl-treaties/gciv-1949

[2] Rome Statute:
Article 8, paragraph 2 – War crimes: Intentionally directing attacks against the civilian population not taking direct part in hostilities, and intentionally directing attacks against hospitals and places where the sick and wounded are collected, provided they are not military objectives.
https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/rome-statute-international-criminal-court

Press Statement on the Attacks on Hospitals in Al-Jabalain, El Daein, and Al-Kurmuk Read Post »

/ General Updates, Press Statements
General Updates, Press Statements, , , , ,

Press Statement on the Targeting of Civilians in Shukairi Village, Abu Zabad, Adikong, and Dilling

Sudanese Human Rights Activists – Norway
Oslo, 13 March 2026

The Sudanese Armed Forces, the Rapid Support Forces, and their respective allies in Sudan have recently carried out attacks targeting civilians and civilian objects in Abu Zabad in North Darfur State, Shukairi village in White Nile State, Abu Zabad and Wad Banda in West Kordofan State, the Adikong border market, the city of Dilling, Um Kuraidim village in West Bara locality in North Kordofan State, and El Daein in East Darfur State, according to local testimonies and reliable media reports. The details are as follows:

First: Attacks on Abu Zabad and Wad Banda Localities – West Kordofan
Drone attacks resumed in the Abu Zabad area on the evening of Wednesday, 11 March 2026. A drone attack attributed to the Sudanese Armed Forces resulted in deaths, injuries, and the destruction of civilian facilities. This followed drone strikes on Saturday, 7 March, targeting the markets of Abu Zabad and Wad Banda, which killed approximately 40 civilians and injured around 60 others.

Preliminary information indicates that the latest attack took place in a non-military area and targeted a truck carrying women, men, and children who were travelling to attend a social occasion. Medical and local sources also reported that a number of victims were buried in a mass grave because of difficulties transporting their bodies.

First, this attack violates the principle of distinction:
Articles 48 and 51(2) of Additional Protocol I relating to the protection of victims of international armed conflicts, and Rule 1 of customary international humanitarian law [1] [2] [3].

Second, this attack violates the principle of proportionality:
The attack contravenes Article 51(5)(b) of Additional Protocol I and Rule 14 of customary international humanitarian law [4] [5].

This attack constitutes a potential war crime under Article 8(2)(b)(i), (ii), (iii), and (iv) of the Rome Statute, concerning intentionally directing attacks against civilians not taking direct part in hostilities, with knowledge that the attack would cause excessive loss of civilian life or injury to civilians and damage to non-military objects [6].

Second: Attack on Shukairi Village – White Nile

On the morning of Wednesday, 11 March 2026, Shukairi village in Um Rimta locality, White Nile State, was subjected to bombardment by four drones belonging to the Rapid Support Forces. The attack targeted a secondary school, a hospital, and a health centre, killing at least eight students, four of whom were under the age of 18, as well as teachers and a healthcare worker, and injuring a large number of students.

The attack caused extensive damage to the school, hospital, and health centre, leading to the closure of schools throughout the locality [7]. Reports also indicated that the combined number of people killed and injured exceeded 30.

This attack violates the principle of protection of educational facilities under Article 52 of Additional Protocol I and Rule 10 of customary international humanitarian law [8] [9].

The attack also violates the principle of protection of healthcare facilities, contrary to Article 12 of the First Geneva Convention and Article 18 of the Fourth Geneva Convention. It may constitute a potential war crime under Article 8, paragraph 9, of the Rome Statute concerning war crimes [10] [11] [12].

Third: Attack on Adikong, Salia, Abu Zabad, and Wad Banda – White Nile State
On the morning of Thursday, 12 March 2026, the crowded Adikong market in West Darfur State, located west of El Geneina near the Adré border crossing with Chad, was struck by a drone attributed to the Sudanese Armed Forces.
The attack resulted in civilian casualties and the destruction of shops and private property. Preliminary reports also indicated that fuel storage facilities inside the market had been targeted.
Another drone attack was also launched against the weekly market in Salia.

This attack violates the protection afforded to markets and civilian objects under Article 52(1) of Additional Protocol I and Rule 7 of customary international humanitarian law [13] [14].
The attack also violates the prohibition of indiscriminate attacks under Article 51(4) of Additional Protocol I and Rule 12 of customary international humanitarian law [15] [16].
The attack may constitute a potential war crime under Article 8(2)(b) of the Rome Statute, concerning the targeting of civilians and civilian property [17].

Fourth: Artillery Shelling of Dilling – South Kordofan
On Thursday, 5 March 2026, the Rapid Support Forces and forces of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement led by Al-Hilu targeted the city of Dilling in South Kordofan with artillery shelling and drone attacks.
The attacks targeted the neighbourhoods of Al-Mak North, Al-Tomat, roads, schools, and the main market.
The attacks resulted in civilian casualties, the exact number of whom has not been confirmed, including a child and three women, one of whom was a Red Crescent volunteer. They also caused the displacement of more than 400 people from the city.

This attack violates the prohibition on the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas under Article 51(5)(a) of Additional Protocol I and Rule 71 of customary international humanitarian law [18] [19].

The attack violates the principle of protection of civilians under Article 51(2) of Additional Protocol I and may constitute a potential war crime under Article 8(2)(b) of the Rome Statute, concerning disproportionate attacks and the targeting of civilians [20] [21].

Potential War Crimes and Violations of International Humanitarian Law

All these attacks may amount to war crimes under international humanitarian law and the Rome Statute, as the four attacks share the following characteristics:

1- They targeted densely populated civilian areas.
2- They were carried out using inaccurate weapons or weapons with wide-area effects.
3- They resulted in civilian casualties.
4- They showed no apparent compliance with the principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution.

Sudanese Human Rights Activists condemns in the strongest possible terms this dangerous escalation of attacks targeting civilians.
Targeting civilians, whether in markets, on public roads, or while travelling for social purposes, constitutes a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law, particularly the principles of distinction and proportionality, which prohibit indiscriminate or disproportionate attacks and require parties to the conflict to take all feasible precautions to protect civilians.

Calls and Demands

Sudanese Human Rights Activists calls on the following parties to take the measures outlined below:

1- The United Nations
A. Open an independent international investigation into the incident, under the supervision of a competent United Nations mechanism.
B. Support and strengthen accountability mechanisms to hold those responsible for ordering or carrying out the attack accountable in accordance with international standards of justice.
C. Strengthen documentation and field monitoring efforts.
D. Provide immediate protection for civilians in conflict areas and ensure that drones or explosive weapons are not used in populated areas.
E. Facilitate humanitarian access to the wounded and survivors and ensure the protection of medical personnel.

Parties to the Conflict
A. Cease all indiscriminate attacks targeting civilians or endangering their lives.
B. Cease all forms of indiscriminate attacks.
C. Refrain from using drones in populated areas.
D. Protect schools, hospitals, and markets.

The International Community
A. Exert pressure to stop the violations.
B. Support victims and displaced persons.
C. Impose sanctions on those responsible for serious crimes.
Justice for the victims, accountability for the perpetrators, and the protection of civilians above all else.

Sudanese Human Rights Activists
Oslo – 13 March 2026

References

[1] https://www.legal-tools.org/doc/362b83/pdf
[2] https://www.legal-tools.org/doc/362b83/pdf
[3] https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/ar/customary-ihl/v1/rule1
[4] https://hrlibrary.umn.edu/arab/b094.html
[5] https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/ar/customary-ihl/v1/rule14
[6] https://legal.un.org/icc/statute/arabic/rome_statute(a).pdf
[7] https://tinyurl.com/2m3u874m
[8] https://hrlibrary.umn.edu/arab/b094.html
[9] https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/ar/customary-ihl/v1/rule10
[10] https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/ar/ihl-treaties/gci-1949/article-12
[11] https://hrlibrary.umn.edu/arab/b093.html
[12] https://legal.un.org/icc/statute/arabic/rome_statute(a).pdf
[13] https://hrlibrary.umn.edu/arab/b094.html
[14] https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/ar/customary-ihl/v1/rule7
[15] https://hrlibrary.umn.edu/arab/b094.html
[16] https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/ar/customary-ihl/v1/rule12
[17] https://legal.un.org/icc/statute/arabic/rome_statute(a).pdf
[18] https://hrlibrary.umn.edu/arab/b094.html
[19] https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/ar/customary-ihl/v1/rule71
[20] https://hrlibrary.umn.edu/arab/b094.html
[21] https://legal.un.org/icc/statute/arabic/rome_statute(a).pdf

Press Statement on the Targeting of Civilians in Shukairi Village, Abu Zabad, Adikong, and Dilling Read Post »

/ General Updates, Press Statements
General Updates, Press Statements, , , , , , ,
Scroll to Top