The OIAD is deeply concerned about the arrest and arbitrary detention of five lawyers in Khartoum. These five lawyers are being targeted for their involvement in defending individuals accused of ‘collaborating’ with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
According to the Emergency Lawyers collective, the Sudanese authorities questioned and then arrested the five lawyers last November, before bringing criminal proceedings against them based on provisions[1][2] relating to “undermining the constitutional order” and “inciting war against the state”. These provisions are regularly used to criminalise the professional and peaceful activities of civilians and lawyers.
A “security cell”[3] proceeded to arrest the five lawyers, including Nasra Abkar Ibrahim, who was arbitrarily arrested in Omdurman with her sister. The lawyer is being prosecuted for allegedly ‘threatening a public official’ and ‘attempting to influence the judiciary’. Her trial is scheduled for 29 October 2025 before the North Omdurman Criminal Court. The collective has called for international monitoring of this hearing to ensure that the rights of the defence and a fair trial are respected.
The Emergency Lawyers collective has also reported a worrying increase in arrests of activists, teachers and doctors by the same unit.
These arrests are part of a broader wave of repression against lawyers, human rights defenders and legal professionals in Sudan.
The Observatory strongly condemns the arbitrary arrests of these five lawyers, which clearly violate the United Nations Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers.
The Observatory urges the Sudanese authorities to release the five arbitrarily arrested lawyers immediately and unconditionally.
The Observatory calls for an independent and impartial investigation into the role of the ‘security cell’ in these arbitrary arrests.
The Observatory reminds Sudan of its international commitments under the following provisions:
- International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, article 9§1: “Everyone has the right to liberty and security of person. No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest or detention. No one shall be deprived of his liberty except on such grounds and in accordance with such procedure as are established by law.”
- African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, article 6: “Every individual shall have the right to liberty and to the security of his person. No one may be deprived of his freedom except for reasons and conditions previously laid down by law. In particular, no one may be arbitrarily arrested or detained.”
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[1] Article 50 of the Sudanese Criminal Code of 1991: “Anyone who commits an act with the aim of undermining the constitutional regime of the country or endangering its independence or unity shall be punished by death, life imprisonment or a lesser term of imprisonment, with confiscation of all his property.” (Unofficial translation).
[2] Article 51 of the Sudanese Criminal Code of 1991: “Any person who incites war against the State shall be guilty of incitement to war against the State and shall be punished by death, life imprisonment or a lesser term of imprisonment, with the possibility of confiscation of all his property, if he:
(a) incites war against the State on a military level by gathering or training individuals, gathering weapons or equipment, or if he engages in this course of action, or incites the guilty party to do so or supports him in any way (…)” (Unofficial translation)
[3] A unit staffed by army, police and intelligence service personnel, which has a mandate to carry out arrests and investigations in areas controlled by the army.
