Sudanese Courts Issue Thousands of Charges Leading to Civilian Executions

Khartoum – Sudan is experiencing a perilous escalation in its ongoing armed conflict.

During the past month, the Sudanese army, supported by allied extremist Islamist factions, has recaptured crucial areas in the capital, Khartoum, after intense clashes that resulted in significant destruction.

As military operations persist, with the army dismissing all African and international mediation initiatives for a peaceful solution, reports of extrajudicial killings and retaliatory actions against civilians are on the rise.

In Khartoum and other recently retaken regions, including Al Jazirah State, observers have recorded abuses driven by ethnic and regional motivations, including summary executions and mass arbitrary detentions of civilians accused of supporting the army’s opponents.

These events have sparked heightened human rights concerns.

At the same time, the Sudanese military has conducted indiscriminate airstrikes on urban and rural areas, particularly in the Darfur region, leading to more civilian casualties.

One of the most catastrophic assaults was an airstrike on the Tura market in North Darfur, which resulted in hundreds of civilian deaths.

Despite the civilian impact, the army has celebrated the reclaiming of significant parts of Khartoum as a strategic success.

In a troubling turn of events, Sudan’s government released a list of thousands of civilians it accuses of cooperating with armed opposition factions, including the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), who have been clashing with the Sudanese army and its allies.

Overwhelmed Courts in Wad Madani

Human rights organizations have disclosed hundreds of new charges filed against civilians in Wad Madani, many of whom are alleged to have aided groups opposing the army.

Advocacy groups are urging the government to maintain fair trial standards and adhere to international legal principles.

Mass trials are being conducted daily in Wad Madani, the capital of Al Jazirah State.

On Thursday, March 27 alone, 950 individuals were tried for allegedly acting against the army.

15,000 Legal Cases and Growing

Legal sources from Sudan’s Public Prosecution Office indicate that over 15,000 cases have been lodged against civilians, all facing accusations of espionage and treason.

While the army and its leader, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan – who heads the Transitional Sovereignty Council – are accused of war crimes by both local and international entities, the Sudanese government has countered by charging civilians with similar offenses.

As reported by the Sudanese news outlet Dabanga, thousands of civilians are on trial for allegedly supporting the RSF.

Legal experts see the broad scope of these cases as politically motivated, intended to convey a message rather than deliver justice.

Trials Without Evidence

Domestic and international human rights organizations have raised alarms over the lack of transparency in these proceedings that have begun in Wad Madani.

Courts have reportedly failed to present substantial evidence against the accused.

Observers claim the government has prevented the public and civil society organizations from attending the trials, raising significant concerns regarding the integrity and fairness of the judicial process.

Experts suggest these prosecutions seem driven by vengeance and political oppression.

The swift rise in daily charges and trials has exacerbated fears that Sudan’s judiciary is being weaponized in a conflict that has now persisted for nearly two years.

Human rights defenders allege the government is manipulating the legal system to silence dissent and suppress reporting on military abuses.

They demand that defendants be allotted sufficient time to prepare their cases, particularly in light of the absence of compelling evidence justifying the haste and severity of the trials.

New Threats

These mass trials – centered around accusations of treason and collaboration with anti-army forces – are escalating divisions within Sudanese society.

The mass arrests of thousands without substantiating evidence have ignited outrage and protests in targeted regions, where men are disproportionately detained and tried in large numbers.

Rahab Mubarak, a prominent member of the Emergency Lawyers Group, remarked that these trials are politically driven rather than based on criminal grounds.

In discussions with Sudanese media, she noted that most defendants lack any connection to the sweeping allegations against them, such as inciting war against the state, undermining constitutional order, or committing treason.

The Emergency Lawyers Group has disclosed that the trials have led to 250 death sentences, numerous life imprisonments, and many other sentences of up to ten years – exacerbating societal tensions.

In military-controlled areas, civilians now live in fear of arbitrary arrest and severe penalties with minimal or no opportunity to defend themselves or appeal.

A Judiciary in Crisis

These swift trials and executions, carried out without proper defense or appeal processes, represent new violations that could further undermine Sudan’s standing internationally.

The government has already encountered sanctions in recent months over wartime atrocities executed by forces under General al-Burhan’s command.

Rahab Mubarak characterized Sudan’s judicial system as presently “dysfunctional,” highlighting how it has severely declined since the onset of the war.

Despite mounting criticism, the mass trials persist unimpeded.

Meanwhile, military operations continue to expand, bringing ongoing violations of international humanitarian and human rights laws.

Military Gains Amid International Paralysis

In recent months, the Sudanese army has achieved significant military progress, reportedly aided by advanced drones and military support from Turkey and Iran, according to international reports.

These advancements have reinforced its stance against the RSF.

However, all African-led peace initiatives – including those by the African Union and IGAD – have faltered, primarily due to the army’s refusal to participate in peace talks and its growing antagonism toward neighboring nations.

Last week, Yasser Atta, the army’s contentious and widely disliked deputy commander, threatened airstrikes on airports in Chad and issued warnings to South Sudan, the Central African Republic, Kenya, and others.

Analysts interpret these threats as efforts to divert attention from the military’s domestic transgressions.

The World’s Largest Humanitarian Crisis

The United Nations has classified Sudan’s conflict as the worst humanitarian crisis globally.

Thirty million people are facing food insecurity, while 15 million have been displaced. Entire regions are now afflicted by famine.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres cautioned that “this conflict is a powder keg that could exacerbate an already catastrophic humanitarian situation and obstruct development for decades.”

In January 2025, the International Rescue Committee identified Sudan as the world’s top emergency for the second year in a row.

Despite this, the Sudanese army refutes the existence of famine and continues to hinder humanitarian assistance, with international reports accusing it of weaponizing hunger.