Sudan's War Sparks Surge: Forced Disappearances Reach 2,000 Worldwide
March 15, 2025 (PORT SUDAN) — A Sudanese human rights organization reported that the count of individuals who have been forcibly disappeared in Sudan has climbed to around 2,000 since the conflict approached its second anniversary.
The Sudanese Group for Victims of Enforced Disappearance reported in their April document that the total count of missing individuals stood at 1,140. This includes 998 males, 27 minors (comprising 20 boys and seven girls), 116 females, along with 11 individuals who have been diagnosed with mental health issues.
Osman al-Basri, who is part of the group, informed Sudan Tribune that the number of disappearances was rising and has now climbed to approximately 2,000 individuals throughout Sudan amid the ongoing conflict.
Basri mentioned substantial obstacles impeding the documentation process, with the most notable being interruptions to communication systems and transport. Such disturbances and power cuts have cut off numerous regions, making accessibility challenging.
Basri mentioned that the growing conflict area has made surveillance even more challenging. Many families are focused on dealing with relocation and worry about safety if they report disappearances to safeguard their other kin. Additionally, some households have been subjected to threats and extortion requests aimed at freeing their missing relations, as he pointed out.
According to Basri, the team encounters significant challenges when recording incidents across various regions, particularly in Khartoum (encompassing Bahri, Omdurman, and Jebel Aulia), as well as in White Nile, Darfur, Kordofan, Al Jazirah, and Sennar.
Regions controlled by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have witnessed numerous allegations of human rights violations, encompassing acts such as murders, detentions, sexual assaults, kidnappings, and forced vanishings.
