The Committee for Justice (CFJ) has submitted a complaint to the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders on behalf of Mr. Abdulhafiz Ahmed Daoud Guma, a Sudanese lawyer and human rights defender from the Fur community, who was subjected to repeated arbitrary arrest, enforced disappearance, torture, and other forms of ill-treatment by members of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan. Mr. Guma was targeted in direct connection with his legal and human rights work in Darfur.
Mr. Guma has worked for more than 20 years as a lawyer and human rights defender, providing legal assistance and representation to victims of violations, particularly internally displaced persons and other vulnerable communities in Darfur. He also contributed to documenting violations, promoting human rights awareness, and supporting access to justice through legal training and advocacy initiatives. His work included litigation and legal action on behalf of victims and affected communities, which exposed him to a long pattern of harassment and reprisals.
Between February and August 2024, Mr. Guma was arrested on five separate occasions by RSF members in different areas of Darfur. During these periods of detention, he was held incommunicado and outside any legal framework, in conditions amounting to enforced disappearance. He was reportedly subjected to severe abuse, including beatings, threats of execution, burning with hot water, suspension, and the removal of fingernails. These violations were not isolated incidents, but formed part of a sustained pattern of retaliation linked to his work defending victims and pursuing justice through legal means.
As a result of this continued targeting, Mr. Abdulhafiz was forced to flee Sudan to save his life, after his presence in Darfur had become a constant danger. After being arrested five times, and subjected to enforced disappearance, torture, and ongoing harassment and intimidation, he was left with no option but to flee, hide, and move between different villages to avoid being arrested again. He was ultimately able to reach Chad after a harrowing escape imposed on him by the violations he had suffered because of his work as a lawyer and human rights defender
Mr. Guma had previously faced threats and intimidation in connection with his professional activities, including after taking legal action against entities allegedly affiliated with the RSF. These incidents, together with the repeated arrests in 2024, reflect a broader pattern of targeting lawyers and human rights defenders by the RSF, particularly those working in conflict-affected areas and supporting victims of grave abuses.
“Abdulhafiz’s case is the story of a lawyer and human rights defender who was persecuted because he chose to stand with victims. He spent years providing legal support to those affected, organizing courses and trainings to raise awareness within his community about the law and their rights, and working to strengthen their access to justice. It is the story of a human rights defender who continued his mission in one of the most dangerous environments imaginable, despite years of harassment, intimidation, and threats. “
CFJ stresses that the targeting of Mr. Guma constitutes a grave attack on the work of lawyers and human rights defenders and undermines access to justice for victims in Darfur. His case demonstrates the dangers faced by those who document abuses, represent survivors, and seek accountability in the context of the ongoing conflict in Sudan.
In its complaint, CFJ called for urgent action to address the violations committed against Mr. Guma, to ensure accountability for those responsible, and to uphold the protection owed to human rights defenders and legal professionals under international human rights law.