Sudanese civilians in South Kordofan and Blue Nile v Sudan

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This case relates to human rights violations committed by the former Government of Sudan, arising from hostilities in South Kordofan and Blue Nile in 2011 and involving the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and allied forces, as well as the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-North. 

THE STORY 

In this case, we alleged that in 2011, the SAF and allied militia groups under the then-Government of Sudan’s control launched a series of coordinated attacks against civilians in South Kordofan and Blue Nile. The forces bombed and burned entire villages, destroying homes and schools, and subjecting civilians (many of them being Nuba) to arbitrary arrest and detention, torture and ill-treatment, and extrajudicial execution. 

Within days, tens of thousands were forced to flee their homes. Reports by civil society and the UN described a region devastated by aerial bombardment, widespread killings, and mass displacement, marking the start of a prolonged humanitarian crisis across the Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile. 

ACTION FOR JUSTICE 

On 2 July 2011, REDRESS, together with the Sudan Democracy First Group (SDFG), Interights and Human Rights Watch (HRW) submitted a request for provisional measures in respect of the situation in South Kordofan to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (African Commission).  

In November 2011, the African Commission requested provisional measures, calling on the Government of Sudan “to intervene in the matter with a view to preventing irreparable harm being caused to the victims.”  

In the absence of a response from the Government of Sudan, the African Commission reiterated its request in August 2012. To date, the Government of Sudan has failed to heed the African Commission’s call. 

On 15 August 2012, REDRESS and its partners submitted arguments on the admissibility of the communication. On 22 August 2012, the African Commission joined our communication with a related one filed by The Enough Project. 

THE OUTCOMES 

On 6 August 2013, the African Commission found the communication admissible. On 30 October 2013, REDRESS and its partners filed arguments and observations on the merits of the case. 

In March 2023, the African Commission delivered its decision on the merits. It found Sudan responsible for widespread and serious violations of the African Charter, including unlawful killings, torture, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance, mass displacement, destruction of civilian property, sexual and gender-based violence and discrimination of the Nuba people.  

The African Commission ordered Sudan to immediately release all arbitrarily detained civilians, ensure due process rights, allow unimpeded humanitarian access and access to human rights monitors, guarantee the safe return of displaced persons and the provision of appropriate housing and basic needs. 

Further, the African Commission called on Sudan to “set up an independent inquiry” to investigate the violations to hold perpetrators accountable and to reform Sudanese laws that shield officials from criminal accountability, including by the removal of immunities enjoyed by officials under Sudanese legislation. 

The African Commission recommended that Sudan ratify the Protocol to the African Charter, on the Rights of Women in Africa 2003 (the Maputo Protocol) and the African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons 2009 (the Kampala Convention), as well as adopt other legislative, administrative and necessary measures to implement the Niamey Guidelines to combat sexual violence. 

The decision made specific reference to the collective rights of the Nuba people. In doing so, the Commission opined: 

“…while the Nuba people do not constitute a single ethnic or religious group, they possess a shared common identity by virtue of, among others, a common territory that they historically inhabited and a sense of belonging they fostered by living together in their shared historical territory, the Nuba mountains. This sense of common identity has been further reinforced by the shared experience of discrimination and violations that the people of Nuba have been subjected to.” 

At the time of filing the merits Submission, we had requested leave to file an additional submission on remedies and reparation, given the passing of time between the merits submission and decisions at the African Commission significantly changes the situation of victims and survivors, and their needs. The African Commission granted our request. REDRESS filed our submission on remedies and reparation on 24 October 2025. 

QUICK FACTS 

  • Case Name: Sudanese civilians in South Kordofan and Blue Nile v Sudan 
  • Court/Body: African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights 
  • Date Filed: 2 July 2011 
  • Decision on merits: March 2023  
  • Current Status: Submission on remedies and reparation filed 
  • Legal representation: REDRESS, Sudan Democracy First Group, Interights, Human Rights Watch, and The Enough Project