THE INTERSECTİON OF HUMAN RİGHTS AND INTERNATİONAL HUMANİTARİAN LAW: A CASE STUDY OF ARMED CONFLİCTS İN SUDAN
Keywords:
Sudan, Armed conflicts, Human rights, International humanitarian law (IHL), AfricaAbstract
The armed conflicts in Sudan present a prolonged and intricate humanitarian crisis marked by widespread human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law (IHL). This research delves into the complex interplay between human rights principles and IHL within Sudan's conflict context, aiming to offer insights into challenges, dilemmas, and potential solutions in conflict-ridden African regions. Sudan's history is marred by various conflicts such as the Darfur conflict and the Second Sudanese Civil War, resulting in significant displacement, loss of life, and systematic violations of human rights and IHL. Understanding these conflicts' dynamics and their impact on civilians is crucial for developing effective strategies to address humanitarian concerns and foster peace and stability. Challenges in addressing human rights violations and ensuring IHL compliance in Sudan include blurred lines between state and non-state actors, asymmetric warfare, and complex socio-political dynamics. Non-state armed groups often operate outside international law, leading to human rights abuses like indiscriminate attacks on civilians and recruitment of child soldiers. State actors may also violate IHL through actions like arbitrary detention and restrictions on humanitarian access. This research adopts a multi-disciplinary approach, drawing on international law, political science, sociology, and conflict studies to analyze root causes and identify avenues for conflict resolution, peacebuilding, and human rights promotion. It critically evaluates the role of regional and international actors, offering practical recommendations to enhance human rights protection and IHL compliance in Sudan and similar African conflict zones.
References
1 ABRAHAM ENAME MINKO is a senior researcher and policy analyst in peace, security, and conflict resolution.
He is completing a Ph.D. in Political Science and International Relations at Istanbul University in Türkiye.
Contact: [email protected]
2 Khan, Assad Mehmood, Nazim Rahim, and Muhammad Javed. "Socio-Political and Socio-Economic
Perspectives of Sudan with Special Reference to Darfur Conflict." Global Social Sciences Review IV, no. IV
(December 30, 2019): 451–59. http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2019(iv-iv).55
3 Zouhir, Abderrahman. "Language Policy and Identity Conflict in Sudan." Digest of Middle East Studies 24, no. 2
(September 2015): 283–302. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/dome.12072.
4 Assal, Munzoul A. M. "Sudan: Identity and conflict over natural resources." Development 49, no. 3 (September
2006): 101–5. http://dx.doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.development.1100284
5 Smith, Stephen W. "Sudan: In a Procrustean Bed with Crisis." International Negotiation 16, no. 1 (2011): 169–
89. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/157180611x553917
6 Ebegbulem, Joseph C. "Nigeria and conflict resolution in Africa: The Darfur experience." Civilizar 11, no. 21
(July 1, 2011): 69. http://dx.doi.org/10.22518/16578953.34
7 Gebrekidan, Getachew Zeru. "Tribal Conflict over Natural Resources on the Sudan – South Sudan Border: The
Case of the Abyei Territory." Acta Humana 9, no. 1 (March 31, 2021): 29–47.
http://dx.doi.org/10.32566/ah.2021.1.2
8 Jawondo, Ibrahim A. "Land, Governance, Conflict and the Nuba of Sudan." African Historical Review 45, no. 1
(June 2013): 89–91. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17532523.2013.796143
9 Bessler, David A., Shahriar Kibriya, Junyi Chen, and Edwin Price. "On Forecasting Conflict in the Sudan: 2009-
2012." Journal of Forecasting 35, no. 2 (November 23, 2015): 179–88. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/for.2382
10 Friedrich, M. J. "Psychological Scars From Conflict in South Sudan Documented." JAMA 316, no. 11
(September 20, 2016): 1141. http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.2016.12651
11 Badal, Raphael Koba. "Religion and Conflict in the Sudan: A Perspective." Bulletin of Peace Proposals 21, no. 3
(July 1990): 263–72. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/096701069002100303
12 Ille, Enrico. "Complications in the classification of conflict areas and conflicts actors for the identification of
‘conflict gold’ from Sudan." Extractive Industries and Society 3, no. 1 (January 2016): 193–203.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.exis.2015.12.005
13 Themnér, Lotta, and Peter Wallensteen. "Armed Conflicts, 1946–2011." Journal of Peace Research 49, no. 4
(July 2012): 565–75. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0022343312452421
14 Lefler, Ashley. "Building Peace in South Sudan." Potentia: Journal of International Affairs 6 (October 1, 2015):
48–68. http://dx.doi.org/10.18192/potentia.v6i0.4416
15 O'Brien, Jay, and Francis M. Deng. "War of Visions: Conflict of Identities in the Sudan." International Journal
of African Historical Studies 30, no. 1 (1997): 178. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/221572
16 Cohen, Herman J. "Sudan: American Policy toward the Land of Endless Conflict." American Foreign Policy
Interests 34, no. 6 (November 2012): 322–28. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10803920.2012.741894
17 Abu-Zaid, Ahmed. "South Sudan: aftermaths of 3 years of armed conflict." Lancet 389, no. 10069 (February
2017): 599. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(17)30280-5
18 Tier, Akolda M. "Conflict of Laws and Legal Pluralism in the Sudan." International and Comparative Law
Quarterly 39, no. 3 (July 1990): 611–40. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/iclqaj/39.3.611
19 Cobham, Alex. "Causes of Conflict in Sudan: Testing The Black Book." European Journal of Development
Research 17, no. 3 (September 2005): 462–80. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09578810500209254.
20 d’Errico, Marco, Oscar Ngesa, and Rebecca Pietrelli. "Assistance in chronic conflict areas: evidence from
South Sudan." Journal of Development Effectiveness 13, no. 2 (April 3, 2021): 145–65.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/19439342.2021.1924835
21 Madibbo, Amal Ibrahim. "Conflict and the conceptions of identities in the Sudan." Current Sociology 60, no. 3
(May 2012): 302–19. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0011392111426194
22 Carolan, Gene. "Transition Without Transformation: The Legacy of Sudan’s Comprehensive Peace
Agreement." International Journal of Transitional Justice 14, no. 2 (June 12, 2020): 340–59.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ijtj/ijaa010
23 Wild, Hannah, Pierre Fallavier, and Ronak Patel. "Lost Generation” in South Sudan: A Broader Approach
Toward Peace Urgently Needed." Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness 13, no. 4 (March 6, 2019):
663–71. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/dmp.2018.144
24 Ibid.
25 Ibid.
26 Kindersley, Nicki, and Øystein H. Rolandsen. "Who are the civilians in the wars of South Sudan?" Security
Dialogue 50, no. 5 (August 19, 2019): 383–97. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0967010619863262.
27 Ibid.
28 Ibid.
29 Moro, L. N. "Oil, conflict and displacement in Sudan." Thesis, University of Oxford, 2008.
http://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:5e08119e-2492-410f-8f5c-2b8ace411070
30 Ibid.
31 Ibid.
32 Brusset, E. "Evaluation of the Conflict Prevention Pools: Sudan." Department for International Development,
2004. http://hdl.handle.net/10454/3935
33 Fabrice, Tambe Endoh. "The efficacy of the United Nations in conflict resolution: a study of the response of the
security council to the Darfur conflict in the Sudan." Thesis, University of Fort Hare, 2012.
http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1006233
34 Gross, de Almeida Daniela. "The Darfur conflict: beyond ethnic hatred explanations." Thesis, Stellenbosch :
Stellenbosch University, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/2185
35 Heleta, Savo. "The Darfur conflict from the perspective of the rebel justice and equality movement." Thesis,
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/970
36 Bhoke, Chacha. "Genocide: a critical analysis of the Darfur conflict in Sudan." Diss., University of Pretoria,
2005. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/1139
37 Ibid.
38 Birech, Robert T. "Giving reconciliation a chance in Sudan seeking an alternative response to the Darfur
conflict." Thesis, Monterey, California: Naval Postgraduate School, 2009.
http://edocs.nps.edu/npspubs/scholarly/theses/2009/Dec/09Dec%5FBirech.pdf.
39 Masabala, Josiah. "An investigation into the extent to which the socio-economic dimension is addressed in
attempts to manage the North-South Sudanese Conflict: with a particular focus on the comprehensive peace
agreement of 2005." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1551
40 Yak, John Maluk. "Identity-Based Cultural Paradigms, Trauma, and Interethnic Conflict in South Sudan."
ScholarWorks, 2016.
41 Ibid.
42 Aleu-Baak, Machar Wek. "Perceptions and Voices of South Sudanese About the North-South Sudan Conflict."
PDXScholar, 2011. https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/open_access_etds/184
43 Ibid.
44 Ibid.
45 Chukwunaru, Charles Obinna. "Conflict prevention, management and resolution in Africa: a case study of the
conflict in the Darfur region of Sudan (2003 – 2013)." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2017.
http://hdl.handle.net/10948/14818
46 Guta, Hala A. "Voices of a Nation in a Contested Social Space: Radio and Conflict Transformation in Sudan."
Ohio University / OhioLINK, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1292265010
47 Ibid.
48 Ibid.
49 Zakaria, John Lat. "A review of Tribal Armed Conflict Resolution in selected counties in Lakes State, South
Sudan." Thesis, University of Fort Hare, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1015247
50 Ibid.
51 Keyanti, Frederick Kanjo. "The plight of internally displaced persons (IDPs) during armed conflict: the case of
Sudan and Somalia." Thesis, University of the Western Cape, 2007.
http://etd.uwc.ac.za/index.php?module=etd&action=viewtitle&id=gen8Srv25Nme4_7839_1257146321.
52 Ibid.
53 Badiey, Naseem. "The state within the local dynamics of 'post-conflict reconstruction' in Juba, southern Sudan
(2005-2008)." Thesis, University of Oxford, 2010. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.547745
54 Enoh, Adamson Akule Junior. "Child soldiers and international law in the Darfur Region of Sudan: does conflict
transformation offer a solution?" Thesis, University of the Western Cape, 2008.
http://etd.uwc.ac.za/index.php?module=etd&action=viewtitle&id=gen8Srv25Nme4_4517_1260186142
55 Ibid.
56 Bashar, Gado Zuhair Mohammedi. "Conflict resolution and reconciliation in Sudan: inter-tribal reconciliation
conferences in South Darfur State up to 2009." Thesis, University of Bradford, 2013.
http://hdl.handle.net/10454/6335
57 Ibid.
58 Muvingi, Ismael James. "Actualizing human rights norms in distanced spaces an analysis of the campaign to
eliminate conflict diamonds and the capital market sanctions (Sudan) campaigns in the United States /." Fairfax,
VA: George Mason University, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/1920/2895
59 Ibid.
60 Roozenbeek, Jon. "A New Stalemate: The Influence of South Sudan's Independence on The Nile Basin's Water
Politics." Thesis, Uppsala universitet, Uppsala centrum för hållbar utveckling, CSD Uppsala, 2014.
http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-228649
61 Bol, L. Lual Majak. Sudan: Events and present conflict. Nairobi, Kenya: L.L.M. Bol, 2000
62 Philip, Steele. Sudan and peoples in conflict. London: Wayland, 2011.
63 Jendia, Catherine. The Sudanese Civil Conflict, 1969-1985. New York: Peter Lang, 2002.
64 Idris, Amir H. Conflict and Politics of Identity in Sudan. New York: Palgrave Macmillan US, 2005.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1057/9781403981073
65 Ibid.
66 Ibid.
67 Grawert, Elke. Forging two nations: Insights on Sudan and South Sudan. Addis Ababa: Organisation for Social
Science Research in Eastern and Southern Africa, 2013.
68 Ibid.
69 Ibid.
70 Plooy, Donovan Du. The nature of the conflict in Sudan: A brief overview of the causes and conduct of conflict
in Sudan. Pretoria: Africa Institute of South Africa, 2005.
71 Ibid.
72 Deng, Francis Mading. War of visions: Conflict of identities in the Sudan. Washington, D.C: Brookings
Institution, 1995.
73 Babyesiza, Akiiki. University Governance in (Post-)Conflict Southern Sudan 2005–2011. Wiesbaden: Springer
Fachmedien Wiesbaden, 2015. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-08145-4
74 Ibid.
75 Bassil, Noah R. The post-colonial state and civil war in Sudan: The origins of conflict in Darfur. London: I.B.
Tauris, 2013
76 Ibid.
77 Assefa, Hizkias. Mediation of civil wars: Approaches and strategies--the Sudan conflict. Boulder, Colo:
Westview Press, 1987
78 Ibid.
79 Barltrop, Richard. Darfur and the international community: The challenges of conflict resolution in Sudan.
London: I.B. Tauris, 2011.
80 Ibid.
81 Ibid.
82 Abraham, Kinfe. The Horn of Africa: Challenges of conflicts, security, and conflict mediation efforts : the
Somalia crisis, the conflict in South Sudan, the Ethio-Eritrean conflict and war, conflicts of the Great Lakes, and
their regional implications. [Addis Ababa]: jointly published by the Ethiopia International Institute for Peace and
Development and Horn of Africa Democracy and Development International Lobby, 2006.
83 Ibid.
84 Ibid.
85 Adebajo, Adekeye. UN peacekeeping in Africa: From the Suez crisis to the Sudan conflicts. Boulder, Colo:
Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2011.
86 Ibid.
87 Ibid.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Journal of Political Science, Law & Governance

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.