The United Nations has expressed alarm over reports of summary executions carried out by Sudanese army forces and allied militia in Khartoum North, warning that such acts constitute war crimes.
Volker Turk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, stated on Friday that deliberately killing civilians or those no longer engaged in hostilities is a violation of international law.
His comments follow verified reports of at least 18 killings in seven separate incidents since Sudan’s military regained control of Khartoum North on January 25.
Many of the victims were reportedly from the Darfur and Kordofan regions. The UN also cited disturbing video evidence showing Sudanese army fighters reading out names of alleged paramilitary collaborators, followed by the Arabic word Zaili—meaning “killed.”

Sudan has been engulfed in conflict since April 2023, when clashes erupted between the army (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The war has killed tens of thousands and displaced over 12 million people, pushing many to the brink of famine.
The UN also condemned continued RSF attacks on civilians, including a deadly drone strike on a maternity hospital in El-Fasher last week that left 67 dead. Additionally, shelling of a displacement camp in North Darfur killed nine civilians.
On Friday, the UN Security Council strongly condemned the escalating violence and urged an immediate ceasefire between the warring factions.