forced disappearances in Sudan surge to 2,000 amid war

March 15, 2025 (PORT SUDAN) – The number of forced disappearances in Sudan has risen to roughly 2,000 as the war nears its two-year mark, a Sudanese rights group said on Saturday.

The Sudanese Group for Victims of Enforced Disappearance said in an April report that the number of missing persons had reached 1,140, including 998 men, 27 children (20 boys and seven girls), 116 women, and 11 people with mental health conditions.

Osman al-Basri, a member of the group, told Sudan Tribune the rate of disappearances was increasing and had now reached about 2,000 across Sudan as the conflict continues.

Basri said significant challenges hampered documentation efforts, most notably disruptions to communication networks and transportation. These disruptions and power outages have isolated many areas and made access difficult.

Basri added that the expanding conflict zone has further complicated monitoring. Families are often preoccupied with displacement and fear reporting disappearances to protect remaining family members. Some families have also received threats and ransom demands for the release of missing relatives, he said.

The group faces particular difficulties documenting cases in several states, notably Khartoum (including the Bahri, Omdurman, and Jebel Aulia areas), White Nile, Darfur, Kordofan, Al Jazirah, and Sennar, according to Basri.

Areas under the control of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have seen widespread reports of human rights abuses, including killings, arrests, rape, abductions, and enforced disappearances.