Urgent Human Rights Report | April 3, 2026
The Tawila locality in North Darfur State has been experiencing escalating security tensions since March 30, 2026, stemming from disputes between the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) led by Abdul Wahid Mohamed Nour and the Sudan Liberation Forces Alliance, allied with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and led by Al-Tahir Hajar.
Field information from the Sudan Rights Watch Network indicates that the dispute is linked to the SLM’s refusal to engage in activities suspected of being connected to drug trafficking. These elements have erected earthen barriers around police stations, a move reflecting the rising tensions and the potential for confrontation between the two sides.
In a related development, widespread fires broke out in the Tawila al-Umda and Rwanda camps, resulting in injuries among civilians, including children. Some fires were still burning at the time of this report. On March 30, 2026, a drone attack in the Ghurair area of Kutum locality killed several women and children and injured others, who were transferred to Kutum Hospital for treatment.
Coercive practices against civilians were also documented, including a campaign targeting young men in the area on March 31, during which several were forced to have their heads shaved inside the Tawila market. In another incident, a tea vendor named Marwa was arrested after being monitored by security forces and detained on suspicion of illegal activities (marijuana trafficking), indicating an escalation in targeting and surveillance of vulnerable livelihoods.
In a development reflecting the precarious security situation within the camps, Abdul Latif Saleh Abdul Karim, a clothing merchant in the Tawila market, was killed inside the Rwanda camp at night in a violent incident believed to be related to a social dispute, highlighting the lack of protection and the absence of the rule of law in displacement areas. In West Darfur State, on March 27, the Sudanese government in Khartoum announced the extension of the Adré border crossing with Chad from April 1 to June 30, 2026, in an attempt to facilitate the flow of humanitarian aid and commercial goods amidst a severe economic downturn. A nighttime curfew was also imposed to curb the security situation, but reports indicate that security incidents continue in several areas.
On April 1, 2026, the Marayat area in the Krink locality was attacked by an armed group who opened fire indiscriminately on civilians, killing Al-Hadi Othman Abkar, a health worker, and wounding Adam Hassan Ibrahim. Personal property was also looted before the perpetrators fled. There were also reports of drone strikes in areas north of El Geneina, reflecting an escalation of military operations and a widening circle of dangers threatening civilians in the state.
Sudan Rights Watch Network
April 3, 2026