Weekly Human Rights Report | Garsila, El Daein, Tawila | August 17
- Executive Summary
This report documents a range of security incidents and human rights violations reported from Central Darfur, East Darfur, and North Darfur states during the second week of August 2026. The documented incidents include the shooting of civilians, armed robbery, abduction and detention, threats, and physical assault, as well as indications of the use or impersonation of military forces in carrying out some of these acts.
The incidents reveal the continued direct threats to civilians’ rights to life, physical safety, liberty, security of person, and property, along with alarming indications of weak accountability and the absence of effective mechanisms for investigation and prosecution.
Given their nature and frequency, these incidents necessitate strengthening measures to protect civilians, conducting independent investigations into crimes attributed to individuals or armed groups, and ensuring that impunity is not tolerated. It is also crucial to distinguish between established facts and allegations that still require independent verification.
- Central Darfur State – Garsila Area
- Looting and Shooting Incident
On August 6, 2026, at approximately 2:00 PM, information from informed sources within the field of Sudan Rights Watch Network in the state indicated a series of armed attacks in the Garsila locality. The attacks began in the northern neighborhood and then spread to the western neighborhood.
According to informed sources, two individuals wearing military uniforms attributed to the Rapid Support Forces were riding a motorcycle. One of them was carrying a Kalashnikov rifle. The incident began with the stopping of a shop owner in the northern neighborhood along the main street. They threatened him and stole his mobile phone, though no physical injuries were reported.
The two men then moved to the western neighborhood, where they arrived at a communications center run by Rashid Ahmed Karama Idris, 36. He was threatened, and when he refused to comply with the assailants’ demands, he was shot in the right hand. His mobile phone was then stolen. The injury caused severe tissue damage to his hand, necessitating its complete amputation at Zalingei Hospital. He is married and has three children.
Upon hearing the gunshots and the wounded man’s screams, Ismail Siddiq Saleh, 24, and Abdu Ibrahim Yusuf, 17, went outside their homes to investigate. According to informed sources, they were also attacked. Ismail was shot in the right side of his body, near the chest, and was taken to Zalingei Hospital for treatment. Abdu was struck on the head with the butt of a firearm and was transferred from Zalingei to Al-Daein Hospital, the capital of East Darfur State, for necessary examinations and a CT scan. When the assailants attempted to withdraw, a number of residents gathered and managed to apprehend one of them, while the other escaped.
- East Darfur State – Violations and Restrictions on Rights and Freedoms
- Killing and Clashes Following a Mobilization
Information from sources within Sudan Rights Watch Network indicates that a young man was killed in Al-Firdous locality during the second week of August by individuals described in testimonies as “thieves.” Following the incident, a local mobilization force emerged from the area, and an exchange of gunfire ensued. This incident requires an independent investigation to determine the circumstances of the killing, the identity of the perpetrators, the nature of the force involved in the clash, and whether the exchange of fire resulted in any further injuries or fatalities.
- Vehicle Looted on the Nyala-Al-Daein Road
Information received by the network’s field sources in the state indicates that a pickup truck carrying goods, including materials and spare parts for cars, was looted on the Nyala-Al-Daein road. The incident highlights the continued dangers of the road for civilians and business owners, necessitating enhanced security measures to protect the movement of citizens and goods.
- Fuel Tanker Looted on Dar es Salaam-Edein Road
Information received by network sources indicates that a fuel tanker was looted on the Dar es Salaam-Edein road by an armed armored vehicle equipped with a cannon. A man named Haroun Abdullah, described as a driver and official in the Rapid Support Forces’ intelligence apparatus, was accused, allegedly because the vehicle used in the incident matched the one he was driving.
- Phone Robbery in Al-Saharij Market
Reports indicate that a young man was robbed in broad daylight at the beginning of the month in Al-Saharij Market, where his mobile phone was stolen. Statements suggest that soldiers stationed at the checkpoint were involved in the incident, which also requires an independent investigation before individual responsibility can be determined.
- Arrest of Youths in Connection with Land Protests
Reports indicate the arrest of a group of young people, including members of the military and pro-government civilian committees, in connection with protests related to the distribution or disposal of public lands. If it is proven that the arrests were due to peaceful participation in the protests or the expression of opinions, this raises serious concerns regarding the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, as well as the need to ensure legal safeguards for detainees.
- Disappearance of a young man after being taken from the market
Informed sources indicate that an armed force took a young man from inside the market, claiming to belong to the Fourth Division in Al-Daein. The young man remains missing as of the date of this report, and the identity of the force that carried out the operation has not been determined. This incident is particularly serious given the lack of information regarding the individual’s whereabouts or the entity holding him.
This case must be treated as a potential case of enforced disappearance or incommunicado detention until the truth is established. The individual’s location must be determined, and his family and lawyer must be informed of his legal status. 7. Summoning or Arresting the Governor
Information was received that a Rapid Support Forces (RSF) unit arriving from Nyala had taken or summoned the state governor in connection with protests related to a land issue. As of the date of this report, it has not been possible to independently and comprehensively verify whether this was a formal summons or an arrest. Therefore, the nature of the action should not be determined until sufficient information is obtained regarding the issuing authority, its legal basis, and the governor’s whereabouts and legal status.
- North Darfur State – Tawila
A serious assault occurred in the Shakashko camp in the Tawila area, stemming from a relationship between a married woman and two married men. All parties involved are residents of the area and neighbors. According to information from network sources, the woman was married, as were the two men, but their wives were in the mountains, while the woman’s husband was not with her in the camp.
The account states that one of the men went to the woman’s house, entered it, and some people who were observing the situation informed the other man that someone had entered the woman’s house. Following this, the other man grabbed a knife and a crutch and went to the woman’s house. Upon arrival, he found the man and woman in a situation he deemed provocative, so he attacked the man, stabbing him three times.
The incident caused chaos and commotion within the camp before the situation was brought under control. Those involved were taken into custody and handed over to the police for legal proceedings.
Regardless of the social context of the conflict, assault with a bladed weapon constitutes a criminal act that must be investigated according to the law, ensuring the rights of all parties and preventing vigilante or retaliatory measures from replacing legal procedures. The woman involved and all parties must be protected from violence, threats, or reprisals, and the circumstances of the incident must not be used to justify assault, defamation, or any form of gender-based violence. V. Legal and Human Rights Analysis
- The Right to Life and Physical Integrity
The shooting of civilians in the Qarsila locality, resulting in serious injuries and the complete amputation of one victim’s hand, constitutes a grave violation of the right to life and physical integrity if it is established that the shooting was intentional or without legal necessity. Furthermore, the use of firearms against individuals who have not been shown to pose an imminent threat to life raises serious questions concerning the principles of necessity and proportionality in the use of force.
- Protection from Torture and Cruel Treatment
The act of striking a minor (17 years of age) on the head with the butt of a weapon, if proven, constitutes a serious assault on physical integrity and may, depending on the degree of harm and the accompanying circumstances, amount to cruel or inhuman treatment. Anyone suspected of committing such acts must be subject to an independent judicial investigation.
- The Right to Property and Personal Security
Armed looting and the seizure of phones, goods, vehicles, and fuel constitute attacks on property and personal security, and are particularly serious when perpetrated by individuals wearing military uniforms or using military vehicles or weapons. If further investigation proves the involvement of individuals affiliated with official forces or organized armed groups, individual and command responsibilities may be incurred, depending on the nature of the entity and the relationship of the officials to the acts committed.
- Guaranteeing the Right to Protection from Disappearance and Arbitrary Arrest
The incident involving the abduction of a young man from the Al-Daein market and his subsequent disappearance necessitates urgent intervention. Concealing the whereabouts of a detained person or denying them access to their family and lawyer poses serious risks to their fundamental rights under all relevant human rights laws. Any detention must be based on a clear legal foundation, the detainee must be registered with a known official authority, and they must be brought before a competent judicial authority within the legally prescribed timeframe, with guarantees of a fair trial.
- Freedom of Expression and Peaceful Assembly
If it is established that the arrests in East Darfur were due to participation in peaceful protests related to the land issue, this could constitute an unlawful infringement on the freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly. Conversely, the commission of Acts of violence or isolated crimes committed during a protest do not grant legal immunity to the perpetrators, but neither do they justify mass arrests or punishment solely for political opinion or peaceful participation.
- State Responsibility and Protection of Civilians
The competent authorities have a duty to take reasonable and effective measures to protect civilians from violence and crime, investigate violations, prosecute perpetrators, and ensure that victims receive treatment and redress. State responsibility is not negated simply because an act was committed by an individual or an irregular armed group if there is a proven gross failure to prevent, investigate, or hold those responsible to account.
It must also be emphasized that attributing a crime to an entire institution or military force is not legitimate merely because some suspects wore military uniforms. Responsibility must be based on specific evidence regarding the perpetrator’s identity, conduct, relationship to the entity to which they are attributed, and any related orders, complicity, cover-up, or negligence.
- Overall Risk Assessment
The collected evidence points to four main risk patterns:
- Increased risk of armed robbery on roads, in markets, and in residential areas.
- The widespread use of firearms in conflicts and crimes against civilians.
- Concerns regarding unlawful arrests, disappearances, and the lack of clarity surrounding the identities of some armed groups.
- Weak accountability mechanisms, allowing violations to continue without effective investigations or compensation for victims.
The use of military uniforms and combat vehicles in some incidents also increases the level of risk, as it may impair the ability of victims and witnesses to distinguish between official forces and armed groups or individuals impersonating officials.
- Recommendations
- Recommendations to the Rapid Support Forces and Local Authorities
- Launch independent, swift, and transparent investigations into all incidents of shooting, looting, killing, abduction, and arbitrary arrest documented in the report.
- Identify the individual arrested in Qarsila, verify their connection to the incident, and ensure they are tried in accordance with due process.
- Conduct an independent investigation to identify the other individual who fled the scene and to track down other perpetrators.
- Investigate allegations concerning the use of military vehicles or weapons in looting crimes.
- Not only identifying the direct perpetrators, but also investigating any leadership role, facilitation, or cover-up of crimes whenever evidence exists.
- Immediately disclosing the whereabouts and status of the young man abducted from the Al-Daein market and guaranteeing his physical and legal safety.
- Releasing anyone detained solely for exercising their right to freedom of expression or peaceful assembly, unless there is evidence of a specific crime.
- Ensuring that all detentions are based on legal grounds, with detainees being registered and able to contact their families and lawyers.
- Strengthening the protection of trade routes, particularly those connecting Nyala to Al-Daein and the roads leading to Dar es Salaam and Al-Daein.
- Taking measures to prevent the use of official uniforms and vehicles in committing crimes, and investigating cases of impersonating military personnel.
- Recommendations for Victim Protection Authorities
- Ensuring the continuation of medical and psychological care for the three injured individuals.
- Providing rehabilitation services and psychosocial support to the victim who suffered an amputation.
- Ensure victims receive documented medical records and reports that can be used in legal proceedings and compensation claims.
- Provide protection for witnesses and victims’ families from threats or reprisals.
- Consider urgent programs for reparations and compensation for serious injuries, loss of income, and property damage.
- Recommendations for Human Rights Organizations and Civil Society
- Establish a unified mechanism for documenting violations in Darfur, including the date, location, type of violation, victim’s identity, source of information, and level of verification.
- Separate confirmed facts from unverified allegations in all public reports.
- Collect testimonies from more than one independent source whenever possible, while maintaining the confidentiality of witnesses’ identities.
- Document medical evidence, photographs, hospital reports, descriptions of vehicles and weapons, and any information that could help identify those responsible.
- Referring cases that may amount to serious crimes to the appropriate national or international judicial mechanisms, in accordance with applicable legal mandates.
- Recommendations for Regional and International Bodies
- Strengthening human rights monitoring mechanisms and the protection of civilians in the Darfur region.
- Supporting medical care and rehabilitation programs for injured civilians.
- Pressuring for humanitarian and medical access to affected areas.
- Supporting independent documentation and preservation efforts related to serious violations.
- Calling on all armed parties to respect the rules of international humanitarian law and international human rights law, within the scope of their respective applicability.
- Methodological Observations on Verification and Use of the Report
This report is based on raw data, information, and informed statements collected from the second week of August until August 16, 2026. Based on the information available for the preparation of this report, it was not possible to independently verify all the facts or to establish definitive criminal responsibility for each incident.
Therefore, the use of phrases such as “according to testimonies,” “information was received,” “is accused,” and “if proven” is intended to uphold the presumption of innocence and professional accuracy, and to avoid turning allegations into definitive conclusions before conducting sufficient independent investigations.
Accordingly, Sudan Rights Watch Network recommends that any human rights organization using this report for publication or advocacy conduct direct interviews with victims and witnesses, verify medical and police records, review physical evidence, and compare testimonies with other independent sources before issuing final conclusions regarding legal, criminal, moral, and other types of responsibility.
- Conclusion
The facts presented in this human rights report, which covers more than one week in August 2026, reflect a highly fragile security environment in parts of Darfur, where civilians are at risk of armed robbery, shootings, assault, abduction, and detention, alongside social and political conflicts that could escalate into violence.
The immediate priority is protecting civilians, saving the lives of the injured, determining the fate of the missing, launching independent investigations, ensuring accountability, and preventing reprisals and collective punishment. Addressing these violations should not be limited to a security response; it requires institutional reform that strengthens the rule of law, regulates the carrying of weapons, protects the independence of the judiciary, improves complaint and documentation mechanisms, and guarantees victims’ access to justice and reparations.
End.
Sudan Rights Watch Network
17 August 2026