- Killings, torture, and arrests of pro-government protesters
- Women activists and protesters targeted through sexual violence
- Journalists detained and media outlets raided
Since the October 2021 coup, violations of civic freedoms have continued unabated, with 117 protesters killed during protests. Others have faced detention, sexual violence and torture.
Ahead of the one-year anniversary of the 25th October coup, a new research brief by CIVICUS, released today, looks at violations on civic freedoms taking place during the coup and in its aftermath.
Ongoing tensions between military and civilian factions in the government resulted in the 25th October 2021 coup d’etat by military leadership which sparked mass protests. Protests have been met with excessive and lethal force, with torture and ill-treatment of protesters documented in detention.
The crisis was only compounded by internet disruptions and shutdowns, which created an information blockade, affecting the ability of the public to get accurate and up-to-date information.
One concerning development is how women human rights defenders (WHRDs) and women protesters have been targeted by sexual violence in an effort to silence them. As of 22 March 2022, 16 women were reportedly raped during protests in Khartoum. In one example, on 18th March 2022, an 18-year-old woman protester was gang raped by three members of the Central Reserve Forces, who threatened to kill her if she moved or screamed.
“Sudanese civil society groups are facing increased restrictions on civic space and rising repression - equal to the conditions during the former regime. The increasing militarisation of the state is threatening the work of WHRDs in particular, as the coup leaders systemically use sexual and gender-based violence to crackdown on the pro-democracy movement,” said Nazik Kabalo, WHRD from Sudan.
Press freedom has also come under attack, with journalists facing detention and physical violence, while media outlets have been raided by security forces. For example, El Musalmi El Kabbashi, Sudan Bureau chief for Al-Jazeera in Khartoum was arrested and later released by security forces after they raided his home overnight. In another incident, three women journalists were subject to arrest, intimidation and sexual violence.
“Sudanese military leaders should end arbitrary arrests, torture, and other forms of ill-treatment against pro-democracy protesters and respect the right to peaceful assembly. They should foster a peaceful transition with civilian authorities that would lead to democratic elections and restore hope for democracy in the region,” said Aarti Narsee, Civic Space researcher, CIVICUS.
Sudan is currently rated ‘Repressed’ by the CIVICUS Monitor. There are a total of 50 countries in the world with this rating (see all). This rating is typically given to countries where civic space is heavily contested by power holders, who impose a combination of legal and practical constraints on the full enjoyment of fundamental rights (see the full description of ratings).
More information
Download the Sudan research brief here.
Sudan is currently rated ‘Repressed’ by the CIVICUS Monitor. There are a total of 50 countries in the world with this rating (see all). This rating is typically given to countries where civic space is heavily contested by power holders, who impose a combination of legal and practical constraints on the full enjoyment of fundamental rights (see the full description of ratings).