UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has raised significant concerns over alleged summary executions occurring in Khartoum North, Sudan. These serious allegations involve fighters allied with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), reportedly killing civilians as they regained control over the area. Türk’s urgent call for action highlights that these acts, verified by the UN Human Rights Office to have resulted in at least 18 civilian deaths, constitute potential war crimes requiring immediate investigation under international standards. The official statement from the UN encapsulates these grave concerns.
The current violence in Sudan is deeply rooted in the ongoing conflict between former allies—the SAF, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) under the command of Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. This internal struggle escalated into armed conflict in April 2023, subsequent to a power-sharing dispute. This development has contributed to one of the largest humanitarian crises globally, exacerbating the already precarious situation for civilians. This conflict has seen pervasive attacks on critical infrastructure, which the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reports as ongoing, including hits on essential civilian infrastructure such as power plants and water stations.
Human Rights Watch, in its World Report 2025, asserts that both conflicting parties are culpable for extensive atrocities, including civilian-targeted bombings and indiscriminate blows to non-military communities. Allegations of systematic sexual violence and obstructions to humanitarian aid distribution only underscore the severity of the situation. As documented, among other disturbing patterns, RSF forces have reportedly used sexual violence as a weapon of war particularly in certain states, an issue highlighted by Human Rights Watch.
The conflict’s direct impact on civilian life cannot be overstated: with more than 10.8 million people displaced and ongoing efforts by opposing forces to block aid access. Moreover, documentation shows bureaucratic restrictions posed by authorities tied to SAF, precluded efficient humanitarian relief efforts. Hospitals have also been co-opted by RSF presence, while widespread looting further impedes access to essential services. These coordinated obstructions have become a focal point for an investigation initiated by the International Criminal Court (ICC) aiming to address and prosecute alleged human rights abuses, war crimes, and usurpations of civilian protection mandates during this ongoing conflict.