The war in Sudan has left thousands of people forcibly disappeared, leaving families in a painful limbo. Human‑rights defenders have documented more than 3,177 cases, including 500 women and 300 children, though some estimates suggest the true number could reach 50,000.
One such case is Waleed, who survived detention by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). After two years he returned home, but his family barely recognized him because of severe malnutrition and physical abuse. His experience mirrors that of many others who report similar trauma.
The Sudanese army’s recapture of Khartoum resulted in the release of some detainees, yet countless others remain missing. The RSF has been accused of using disappeared individuals as human shields and subjecting many to torture, beatings and extortion. Families are often forced to pay large sums for the release of their loved ones, and some fall victim to brokers who exploit their desperation.
Human Rights Watch has charged both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF with war crimes, including the liquidation of detainees without trial, torture and mutilation of bodies. The UN Independent International Fact‑Finding Mission in Sudan is investigating these violations.
The African Center for Justice and Peace Studies is developing a national strategy to combat enforced disappearances, which have become a hallmark of the conflict. Its defenders note that the pattern of disappearances has shifted since the war began, with government‑aligned armed groups now targeting civilians in government‑controlled areas.
According to the Sudanese Group for Victims of Enforced Disappearances, 1,140 people were forcibly disappeared in the past year. The RSF has demanded ransoms from families for the release of their relatives. The group also documents cases of forced labor, deaths in airstrikes, and the arrest, killing and burial of citizens in detention yards.
The fate of thousands of disappeared individuals remains unknown, leaving their families torn between hope and despair. The international community has been urged to act, to address enforced disappearances in Sudan and to hold those responsible for these crimes accountable.
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