10 October 2025
Kassala State, in eastern Sudan, is witnessing a rapid deterioration in security amid the ongoing war, where the rule of law has given way to the dominance of security and military forces. This situation has resulted in a pattern of grave abuses against civilians, including arbitrary arrests, torture, and the targeting of activists, journalists, and citizens originating from the Darfur and Kordofan regions. The incident documented in this report stands as a stark example of the unchecked power of Sudan’s security apparatus and its systematic misuse of authority without oversight or accountability.
On the night of Wednesday, 27 August 2025, at approximately 11:00 p.m., a unit from the General Intelligence and Security Service raided the home of a civilian in Kassala City. The force consisted of five armed men led by an officer identified as Abdelqader, driving a Land Cruiser mounted with light weapons. They knocked violently on the door, and when the resident stepped out to inquire, he was immediately arrested at gunpoint without being shown any official warrant. The officers dragged him away in front of his family and took him to an undisclosed location, where he was beaten and humiliated before being transferred to a security facility in the city.
According to the victim and eyewitnesses, he was subjected to prolonged interrogation accompanied by severe physical and psychological torture. He was beaten with metal wires and sticks, insulted, and threatened with death if he spoke about what happened. Another intelligence officer, identified as Hassan, also participated in the interrogation. The questioning lasted until early morning, during which the victim was accused of vague charges such as “collaboration with foreign entities” and “communication with hostile media.” At the end of the ordeal, he was coerced into signing a pledge not to discuss the incident or leave the state without prior authorization. He was then released in poor health, suffering from acute head and back pain, and remains under direct threat from security agents.
This incident constitutes a grave violation of the Sudanese Constitution, national laws, and international human rights treaties ratified by Sudan. Articles (83), (115), and (142) of the Sudanese Criminal Act of 1991 criminalize arrest without legal authorization, abuse of public authority, and causing bodily harm through torture. Furthermore, these practices clearly contravene Article (9) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which prohibits arbitrary arrest and guarantees the right to liberty and personal security, and Article (5) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which forbids torture and cruel or degrading treatment. Accordingly, the unlawful arrest, torture, and coerced signing of documents under threat amount to serious crimes under both national and international law, warranting prosecution and accountability. They also reflect a deliberate and organized policy of intimidation aimed at silencing dissenting voices in eastern Sudan.
Evidence and testimony indicate that this was not an isolated act but part of a wider, coordinated pattern of repression intended to subjugate civilians and instill fear within communities. The continued threats made against the victim after his release underscore the persistence of impunity and the pervasive control exercised by the security services in the region.
Recommendations
1. Initiate an immediate, independent investigation under the supervision of the Public Prosecution to identify and hold accountable all those responsible for the incident.
2. Prosecute Officer Abdelqader and all members of the General Intelligence and Security Service involved in the arrest and torture.
3. Provide immediate legal protection, medical care, and psychological support to the victim and his family.
4. Urge the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) to include this incident in its periodic reports on the human rights situation in Sudan.
5. End all forms of arbitrary detention and ensure full compliance with legal procedures during arrests and interrogations.
6. Undertake comprehensive reform and restructuring of Sudan’s security institutions to ensure their subordination to civilian authority and effective judicial oversight.
