KHARTOUM, Sudan— The Sudanese army is carrying out extrajudicial killings and forcing mass displacement across Khartoum, according to human rights organizations and activists, as disturbing footage circulates on social media, writes Mathew Ndeti.

Reports from Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and local Sudanese advocacy groups indicate that these actions amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Videos and photos reviewed by human rights organisations allegedly show summary executions of prisoners and civilians in neighbourhoods including Berri, Giref West, Al-Sahafat, Mayo, Al-Azhari, and Kalaklat, as well as in Jebel Awlia.

Testimonies from residents and eyewitnesses describe scenes of forced disappearances, mass arrests, and torture by military forces and their allied militias.

The Sudanese Congress Party condemned the actions in a statement, calling them “a serious breach of national and international laws, fuelling hate speech and violence, and threatening social fabric by promoting a culture of taking justice into one’s own hands.”

“These extrajudicial executions are war crimes under international humanitarian law, which prohibits the killing of prisoners and civilians without a fair trial according to the 1949 Geneva Conventions,” the party stated.

The statement added that the systematic nature of the killings, particularly following the army’s seizure of Wad Madani, suggests a deliberate policy to intimidate civilians and spread fear.

“These actions constitute crimes against humanity under Article 7 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court,” it said.

Local human rights groups characterised the killings as ethnically and regionally motivated, drawing parallels to similar violations committed by the army in Wad Madani two months ago.

Sudanese legal experts warn that these actions could have long-term repercussions, including deepening ethnic tensions and further destabilising the country.

Activists and independent monitors have documented videos showing arbitrary arrests, torture, and field executions.

One video purportedly shows a person being thrown from a bridge and shot before falling into the water below. Other footage depicts mass graves and bodies of civilians with signs of severe mutilation.

The violence comes amid an intensified social media campaign by supporters of the armed forces, justifying the killings by alleging victims’ collaboration with the Rapid Support Forces.

This paramilitary group has been fighting the army since April 2023. Pro-military accounts have shared unverified claims accusing individuals of aiding the RSF, often accompanied by inflammatory language encouraging retributive violence.

The Sudanese Congress Party called for “the immediate cessation of the unlawful killing approach that exacerbates violence and polarisation” and urged accountability for those responsible, “whether executors or inciters”.

In addition to executions, army forces and allied militias have been accused of forcing civilians to flee through “horrific repressive practices” in areas including Al-Rahad, Al-Dinder, and Kanabi in Gezira State, as well as Halfiya Al-Muluk, Al-Azbah Bahri, and Haj Yousif in Khartoum State.

“Hundreds of families have been displaced from eastern Khartoum without their belongings, seeking refuge in areas controlled by the Rapid Support Forces, particularly in East Darfur,” said a statement from local activists.

Humanitarian organisations report that those fleeing face dangerous conditions, with limited access to food, water, and medical assistance.

Some videos reportedly show mutilation of civilian bodies in affected areas, fuelling fears that ethnically motivated violence is escalating.

Residents who managed to escape have described scenes of looted homes, burned properties, and the disappearance of young men suspected of opposing the military’s rule.

The latest reports come as international organisations protest at the United Nations against allegations that the Sudanese army is using prohibited weapons against civilians.

The “Emergency Lawyers” group has described the violations in Darfur as “the most deadly since the conflict began two years ago.”

Humanitarian groups have also accused both the army and the RSF of deliberately targeting civilians, warning that the ongoing violence risks plunging Sudan into further chaos.

The Sudanese Congress Party warned that impunity for the perpetrators “will only lead to a dangerous escalation that must be prevented before it’s too late” and called for urgent intervention to “stop this chaos and protect civilians from severe violations that contradict all human and legal values.”

Neither the Sudanese army nor government officials have responded to the allegations.

However, in past statements, the army has denied similar accusations, arguing that its operations target armed combatants and not civilians.