The Collapse of Documentation in Sudan’s Conflict and Its Impact on Human Rights Accountability

Human Rights Research Center
1 day ago
9 min read

June 23, 2026

Black smoke rises from an attack near Sudan’s capital as fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces erupts in Sudan’s capital. The Sudanese military blames the RSF for a communications blackout that cut off millions of civilians. [Image Credit: AFP via Getty Images/CNN]

Introduction

The ongoing conflict in Sudan has evolved into one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises. Since the conflict erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), civilians have faced mass displacement, attacks on infrastructure, sexual violence, abuse, arbitrary detention, and widespread killings (Human Rights Watch, 2024). Beyond this violence, another crisis has emerged: the collapse of documentation systems. These systems are needed to record the multitude of abuses faced by civilians in Sudan, and without documentation, how can justice be served? Internet shutdowns, destruction of hospitals, collapsing communication networks, restrictions on humanitarian access, and the displacement of journalists and human rights defenders have created a growing “documentation gap” within Sudan.

This collapse of information systems cannot be mistaken as a “side effect” of war; it is now central to the conflict itself. Human rights accountability depends on evidence, testimony, records, and visibility. When communication systems fail and institutions meant to share information disappear, violations become drastically harder to verify, investigate, and prosecute. Sudan demonstrates how invisibility can function as a weapon of war, silently enabling continued abuses while weakening both international and domestic responses.

The Breakdown of Documentation Systems and Collapse of Evidence Collection

The repeated use of internet and telecommunication shutdowns has been pivotal in Sudan’s documentation crisis. In March 2024, Amnesty International reported a near-total communications blackout that disrupted humanitarian operations, while also limiting human rights monitoring efforts. During this blackout, civilians could not contact family members, seek emergency assistance, or report abuses taking place within their communities (Amnesty International, 2024). Additionally, journalists and activists struggled to communicate with witnesses or verify information coming from conflict-affected areas.

In modern-day conflicts, documentation often depends on digital technology. Mobile phones, messaging apps, social media platforms, and online databases are now central tools for recording violations, raising awareness, and preserving evidence. When communication systems collapse, the transmission of information becomes fragmented and unreliable (Freedom House, 2024). Shutdowns in Sudan frequently occurred in areas heavily controlled by opposing armed groups (Access Now, 2024). This demonstrates that control over information has become strategically utilized as a “weapon of war” within the conflict itself.

Physical destruction has also played a major role in weakening documentation efforts. Hospitals, courts, government offices, and civil registries across Sudan have been damaged, looted, or destroyed during the fighting (U.S. Department of State, 2025). Medical files, death certificates, forensic records, and legal archives are forms of evidence that may be necessary in investigations of war crimes or crimes against humanity. However, as these institutions collapse through destruction, those records and tools for accountability disappear with them.

The weakening of Sudan’s judicial and administrative systems has further undermined accountability efforts. Courts in many conflict-affected regions no longer function effectively, leaving civilians with few formal channels to report abuses or pursue legal action. Complaints often go unrecorded, testimony cannot be properly preserved, and investigations rarely move forward (U.S. Department of State, 2025). Records documenting births, deaths, disappearances, and property ownership have also been disrupted or destroyed in many areas. These records are often essential after conflicts end because they help establish the historical record, support reparations efforts, and assist investigations into unlawful killings or forced displacement.

Furthermore, journalists, aid workers, and local human rights activists have continuously faced growing dangers throughout the conflict. Human Rights Watch documented cases of harassment, detention, assault, and killings targeting activists and humanitarian responders by both the SAF and RSF (Human Rights Watch, 2024). Because of growing insecurity, many organizations responsible for collecting testimony in Sudan have been forced to evacuate affected areas or operate remotely, creating major gaps in independent reporting and verification of the human rights crisis.

Humanitarian Access Restrictions and Data Gaps

Restrictions on humanitarian access have made evidence collection even more difficult, as both the SAF and RSF have allegedly obstructed aid deliveries and limited the movement of humanitarian organizations (Human Rights Watch, 2025). Since direct access to many conflict-affected regions is no longer possible, international organizations are increasingly relying on satellite imagery, refugee testimony from outside Sudan, and public information. While these methods are valuable, they do not have the capacity to fully replace on-the-ground investigations. This weakens advocacy efforts, and makes accountability significantly more difficult to achieve.

These restrictions also create major gaps in the international understanding of the crisis as well. Since journalists, investigators, and humanitarian workers cannot safely reach affected communities, many violations likely remain undocumented, obscuring the scale of violence in Sudan. This is especially concerning in regions like Darfur, where reports of ethnic violence, mass displacement, attacks on civilian infrastructure, and widespread killings continue to emerge. Human Rights Watch has documented attacks on villages, displacement camps, and healthcare facilities, and Amnesty International has reported patterns of systematic sexual violence and deliberate attacks against civilians (Human Rights Watch, 2024; Amnesty International, 2024) . However, the full scale of these abuses may never be fully known because of continuing insecurity and communication failures.

Incomplete information also weakens the international response. Sanctions, investigations, humanitarian interventions, and diplomatic pressure all depend heavily on verified evidence. When evidence is delayed, fragmented, or inaccessible, international actors often struggle to respond effectively. In this sense, the collapse of documentation systems does not only conceal violence; it also undermines efforts to address it.

Additionally, communication shutdowns increase risks for survivors and witnesses. Since secure communication channels are disappearing or being limited, individuals may become unwilling or even unable to report abuses safely. Factors such as fear of retaliation, combined with the lack of reliable protection mechanisms, contribute to widespread underreporting of violence and abuse. This silence ultimately reinforces impunity as violations receive less and less international attention and public scrutiny.

Accountability and International Justice

The collapse of documentation systems has serious consequences for international accountability efforts. Investigations into war crimes and crimes against humanity depend heavily on preserved evidence, witness testimony, forensic records, and reliable reporting. As Sudan’s documentation systems continue to deteriorate, establishing responsibility for abuses becomes significantly more difficult.

Despite these challenges, international organizations continue attempting to pursue accountability. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has maintained investigations relating to Darfur, while the United Nations Human Rights Council established an Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan (Human Rights Watch, 2025; United Nations Human Rights Council, 2024). However, as mentioned above, these efforts face major obstacles because investigators often lack secure access to affected areas and must rely heavily on remotely collected evidence.

Human Rights Watch has also reported that impunity remains widespread, with neither the SAF nor the RSF carrying out credible investigations into abuses committed by their own forces (Human Rights Watch, 2026). The collapse of domestic accountability institutions therefore places greater pressure on international mechanisms that are already limited by incomplete information and restricted access.

The effects extend beyond criminal prosecutions. Diplomatic pressure, sanctions processes, humanitarian coordination, and international advocacy all depend on credible information. When documentation systems collapse, the international community risks underestimating the scale and severity of abuses taking place (Amnesty International, 2024). Sudan highlights a broader reality within human rights work: visibility is essential for accountability. Documentation works to transform individual suffering into evidence capable of supporting effective legal and political action. Without documentation, victims risk becoming invisible within international systems.

Conclusion

The conflict in Sudan demonstrates that the destruction of documentation systems can become a powerful feature of modern warfare. Internet shutdowns, attacks on infrastructure, restrictions on humanitarian access, and the displacement of journalists and human rights defenders have collectively produced a severe documentation gap that obscures violations and weakens accountability efforts. International investigators are increasingly forced to rely on fragmented evidence collected remotely, limiting their ability to fully document abuses or prosecute those responsible.

Sudan also demonstrates the close connection between information access and human rights protection. Documentation is not simply administrative; it is essential to justice, advocacy, the historical record, and accountability. When communication systems collapse and evidence disappears, perpetrators gain greater freedom to operate without scrutiny or consequences. Invisibility becomes a condition that allows violence to continue.

Protecting documentation systems during armed conflict should therefore be recognized as a major human rights priority. Safeguarding journalists, preserving communication networks, supporting local monitoring organizations, and ensuring humanitarian access are all necessary not only for immediate humanitarian response, but also for long-term accountability.

Glossary

Accountability – Responsibility for actions, abuses, or violations and the obligation to answer for them.
Administrative Systems – Government systems responsible for maintaining records and administering public services.
Advocacy – Public support for or action taken to promote a cause or policy.
Amnesty International – An international human rights organization that documents and reports human rights abuses.
Arbitrary Detention – Detention without due process or legal justification.
Civil Registries – Official systems that record births, deaths, and other vital events.
Communication Blackout – A near-total disruption or shutdown of communication services.
Communication Networks – Systems and infrastructure used to transmit and share information.
Conflict-Affected Areas – Regions impacted by armed conflict and violence.
Crimes Against Humanity – Widespread or systematic attacks directed against civilian population.
Darfur – A region in western Sudan heavily affected by conflict, violence, and displacement.
Digital Technology – Electronic used for communication and documentation.
Diplomatic Pressure – Political or diplomatic efforts used to influence the actions of governments or groups.
Displacement – The forced movement of individuals or communities from their homes.
Documentation Gap – A lack of sufficient information, records, or reporting regarding events or abuses.
Documentation Systems – Systems used to record and preserve information and evidence.
Evidence Collection – The process of gathering testimony, records, and other information for investigations.
Forensic Records – Medical, scientific, or investigative records used as evidence.
Fragmented Information – Incomplete, disconnected, or difficult-to-verify information.
Independent International Fact-Finding Mission – An international investigative body established by the United Nations to gather and verify evidence of human rights abuses in Sudan and report its findings to support accountability effort
Human Rights Accountability – Efforts to investigate, address, and provide remedies for human rights violations.
Human Rights Defenders – Individuals or groups that promote and protect human rights.
Human Rights Watch – An international organization that monitors and reports human rights abuses.
Humanitarian Access – The ability of humanitarian organizations to reach affected populations and deliver assistance.
Humanitarian Crisis – A situation involving widespread human suffering that requires urgent assistance.
Impunity – The lack of punishment or accountability for unlawful actions or abuses.
Independent Reporting – Reporting conducted free from government, military, or other external control.
Information Systems – Systems used to collect, process, store, and share information.
Infrastructure – Physical facilities and systems, such as hospitals, communication networks, and government buildings.
Institutional Collapse – The breakdown of government, legal, or administrative institutions during conflict.
International Criminal Court (ICC) – An international court that investigates and prosecutes genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and aggression.
International Justice – Efforts by international legal institutions to hold perpetrators accountable for serious crimes and abuses.
Internet Shutdowns – Deliberate disruptions or restrictions of internet access.
Judicial Systems – Courts and legal institutions responsible for administering justice.
Modern Warfare - Conflict or warfare between countries and groups characterized by the use of technology, tactics, and methods of combat.
Open-Source Intelligence – Publicly available information collected and used for investigative purposes.
Rapid Support Forces (RSF) – A Sudanese paramilitary force involved in the ongoing conflict in Sudan.
Refugee Testimony – Statements or accounts provided by displaced persons outside their country of origin.
Reparations – Compensation, restitution, or remedies provided to victims of harm or violations.
Sanctions – Penalties or restrictions imposed in response to violations, abuses, or unlawful conduct.
Sexual Violence – Acts of sexual nature committed through force, coercion, or exploitation
Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) – Sudan’s national military force.
Systematic Violence – Organized or repeated acts of violence carried out according to a pattern or policy.
Underreporting – The failure to fully document or report incidents, abuses, or violations.
War Crimes – Serious violations of international humanitarian law committed during armed conflict.
Weapon of War – A tactic, strategy, or tool used to gain an advantage during conflict.

References

Access Now. (2024, February 13). #KeepItOn in times of war: Sudan’s communications shutdown must be reversed urgently - Access Now. Access Now. https://www.accessnow.org/press-release/keepiton-sudan-shutdown/
Amnesty International. (2024a, March 8). Sudan: Internet Shutdown Threatens Delivery of Humanitarian and Emergency Services. Amnesty International. https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/03/sudan-internet-shutdown-threatens-delivery-of-humanitarian-and-emergency-services/
Amnesty International. (2024b, April 12). Sudan: One year since conflict began, response from international community remains woefully inadequate. Amnesty International. https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/04/sudan-one-year-since-conflict-began-response-from-international-community-remains-woefully-inadequate/
Amnesty International. (2025, April 9). Sudan: Rapid Support Forces’ horrific and widespread use of sexual violence leaves lives in tatters. Amnesty International. https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2025/04/sudan-rapid-support-forces-horrific-and-widespread-use-of-sexual-violence-leaves-lives-in-tatters/
Freedom house. (2024). Sudan: Freedom on the Net 2024 Country Report | Freedom House. Freedom House. https://freedomhouse.org/country/sudan/freedom-net/2024
Human Rights Watch. (2023, December 14). Sudan: Events of 2023. Human Rights Watch. https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2024/country-chapters/sudan
Human Rights Watch. (2024, December 18). World Report 2025: Rights Trends in Sudan. Human Rights Watch. https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2025/country-chapters/sudan
Human Rights Watch. (2025, March 31). Sudan: 20th Anniversary of Darfur ICC Referral. Human Rights Watch. https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/03/31/sudan-20th-anniversary-darfur-icc-referral
Human Rights Watch. (2026, January 14). World Report 2026: Rights Trends in Sudan. Human Rights Watch. https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2026/country-chapters/sudan
U.S. Department of State. (2025, August 12). Sudan - United States Department of State. United States Department of State. https://www.state.gov/reports/2024-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/sudan
United Nations Human Rights Council. (2024). Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan. OHCHR. https://www.ohchr.org/en/hr-bodies/hrc/ffm-sudan/index

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