SUDAN:more than 55 artists have perished through
extrajudicial killings
more than 55 artists
Since the onset of the war on 15 April 2023, more than 55 artists have perished through
extrajudicial killings, denial of medical attention, and torture in detention facilities. Thousands
have been forcibly displaced within and outside Sudan. Some of these violations have been caused by the bombing/shelling and the obstruction of humanitarian aid. The attack on cultural and historical objects during the current war first occurred when the Rapid
Support Forces fighters were sighted inside the National Museum wearing a historical mask. This was followed up by several other incidents. For example, in March 2024, there were attacks
targeting the National Radio and Television Corporation building in Omdurman, theaters, and facilities used by artists and creatives.
Even though musicians, dramatists, cultural actors, and other creatives associated with the performing arts are generally regarded as the top losers and have been victims of hate speech, some have aligned themselves with the warring parties, utilizing their artistic and creative works to promote the war. On the other hand, many voices, works of art, and initiatives emerged from a wide range of
creatives including musicians calling for an end to the war.
INTRODUCTION
The African Center for Peace and Justice Studies (ACJPS) in collaboration with the Sudanese Music Research Center carried out research about the human rights violations committed against
artists during the current armed conflict. The report focuses on the period between 15 April 2023, and September 2024, highlighting the plight of artists, musicians, and dramatists, some of whom have supported the warring parties establishing a global precedent. However, musicians and singers who are part of the Musical Corps are excluded from this report, as they are military personnel and are involved in the violations against the population. The current armed conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) is part of a long history of armed conflicts in Sudan that started in the Torit military garrison in 1955 before the country gained its independence. Sudan was engulfed in conflict from
1955 to 1972, then from 1983 to 2005, and civil war involving the National Democratic Assembly from 1994 to 2006. The civil war in the Darfur region from 2003 to 2020, during which time some
armed movements remained in a state of rebellion to date. Additionally, the war in the Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile regions started in 2011 to date. Sudan was mismanaged under three dictatorships (1965 to 1958), (1969 to 1985), (1989 to 2019),
and (2021 to 2023). The broken systematic policies led to the formation of parallel auxiliary armed forces and the neglect of the military and military objects enabling the auxiliary forces with
resources such as gold to gain power. These groups got a taste of power in 2019 after the fall of the former regime. The mismanagement coupled with the long brewing tensions between the two generals sparked off armed conflict in the capital, Khartoum, in April 2023. The RSF is primarily comprised of members of pastoral groups from the Kordofan and Darfur regions. The majority of the RSF leaders hail from said groups and were previously affiliated with
the National Congress Party (NCP). Additionally, the RSF leadership includes individuals from areas such as Sennar and Al-Butana. Conversely, the upper and middle ranks of the national army
were predominantly drawn from the Sudanese Islamic Movement, which, since the 1989 coup, facilitated the enrollment of its members into the Sudanese Military College. This composition, coupled with the aforementioned factors, has resulted in urban warfare within residential areas, characterized by the extensive use of advanced weaponry, aerial bombardment, and drone strikes.
This has led to a scramble for power and, a takeover of government and private facilities, aiming
to expand territorial gains. The nature of the conflict and the parties involved have caused severe damage to the economy and social rights, including acts of sabotage, theft, and destruction of public and private objects, including cultural artifacts.
Extrajudicial Killing
A significant number of civilians, including artists and creatives have perished as a result of direct or indirect consequences of shelling namely; 1. Hamdan Azraq, a member of the Omdurman Youth Center, is a singer and composer. He was killed by shelling in the Hayyal-Arab neighborhood in Omdurman.
2. Abdulbasit, known as Wasta, is a keyboard player at the Omdurman Youth Center. He
was killed by a shell in Bahri.
3. Asia Abdelmajid (birth name Asia Muhamad Al-Toum) was the first Sudanese
theatrical actress. Bahri was killed during a shooting in Bahri on 04 May 2024.
4. Bilal is a poet, musician, and composer from Omdurman. He died on 01 January 2024.
5. Hamdan Azraq, a figurative artist. A shell fell on his house in the Al-Shuhada
neighborhood, Omdurman on 11 March 2023 resultantly killing him.
6. Rif’at Al-Daw also known as Kota, is a conga player. He was killed on 22 February
2024 in Omdurman.
7. Abbas Awad Jebriel, a poet, composer, and actor. He was killed by a shell on 12
September 2023 Al-Hara Al-Oula in Omdurman.
8. Abdulwahid Abdultam, a violinist with Abu Arky Al-Bakhit band in Omdurman. He
was killed by a shelling on 12 July 2023.
9. Osman Younis also known as Shaqa, was a member of the Red Sea Artists Union and
a sergeant in the Navy. He was killed in El Fashir on 21 May 2024.
10. Arki Abdelrahim was killed by a shell at Al-Hamadab Mosque in Al-Shajara on 23
August 2023.
11. On 13 May 2023, at approximately 1:00 AM, Shadin Muhammad Hussein, a 35-yearold poetess locally known as Hakama, was sitting at the rooftop of her residence in AlHashmab, Omdurman accompanied by her son, two family members, and two
neighbors when she was struck by a bullet seemingly fired by a nearby sniper. She was
hit in the right side of the stomach below the ribs. As her companions sought to procure
a neighbor’s vehicle to transport her to the hospital, three additional bullets were
discharged in their vicinity. Their progress was further impeded at a SAF checkpoint,
resulting in a significant delay. Tragically, her family received the news that she had
succumbed to the injuries approximately 30 minutes before they arrived at the hospital.
Ms. Shadin was very active on Facebook, advocating for an end to the conflict and
criticizing the role of Islamists in obstructing humanitarian aid. On 12 May 2023, she
shared three notable posts on her Facebook page. The first was a 2-minute and 12-
second video reposted from an online newspaper called Al-Rakoba, titled “The
Islamists: Sedition in Sudan – The Key to War, and the Army Deceived.” The second
video, which lasted less than three minutes, bore the title “The Director of Port Sudan
Airport Refuses to Accept Planes Loaded with Medicine for the Benefit of the Sudanese
People and Must Be Held Accountable.” In her third post, she wrote, “To every lover
of writing, we will document for the first time a history that is not unknown, with
utmost accuracy and credibility. You are a witness.” Shadin was a member of the
Misseriya group.
12. On 22 July 2023, Muhammad Al-Nour Al-Ghali Ezz El Din, a 27 years old singer was
killed when a shell fell on their home in the Texas Al-Hara Al-Oula neighborhood,
during artillery shelling by the 16th Division Command in the city of Nyala, South
Darfur State. His father, Al-Nour Al-Ghal (also a singer), was injured in the leg.
13. On 23 August 2023, at around 4:00 pm, the Al-Hamadab Mosque in the suburb of AlShajara in Khartoum was shelled during a gunfight between RSF and SAF resultantly
killing of several worshippers including Mr. Arki, an artist.
14. Muhammad Youssif also known as “Andokai”, an actor from El Geneina, West Darfur,
was killed inside his house in June 2023.
15. Mujahid Abdullah, a violinist was killed by a shell on 10 November 2023.
16. Majdy Karari, a trumpet player and member of the Musical Corps died during a clash
in Omdurman.
17. Muhammad Al-Hassan Al-Sanjak, violinist and music teacher, graduate of the Higher
Institute of Music and Theater, was hit by a shell in his home in the Doha neighborhood
of Omdurman on 23 March 2024.
18. Muhammad Khatir Daoud, a 32-year-old artist who graduated in 2021 from the Piano
Department at the University of Sudan, College of Music and Drama, died on 21
August 2023
