The ambiguous bylaws like the “strange faces law/ order” decreed in 2024 by the de facto government
of Sudan under the SAF, it formed part of the extraordinary notices and verbal orders. This was created
during the current conflict and it aimed at restricting access to SAF-controlled areas in Northern,
Eastern, and parts of Central Sudan by individuals presumed to be associated with the RSF. The ‘strange
faces order’ involves racial, ethnic, and sometimes religious, targeting.8 In the context of the ongoing
armed conflict, if you are found in certain locations when you are from west Sudan,9 you are considered
or assumed to be against SAF and anti- Islamic establishment10. However, the deliberate introduction of
the ‘strange faces order/law’ in SAF-controlled territories is an act of ethnic targeting by SAF
authorities.11
1.3 Methodology
This research is a continuation of HUDO Centre’s human rights monitoring and documentation efforts.
The focus in this report is to identify and document the human rights violations that have been taking
place during the ongoing armed conflict in Sudan since April 2023, to give the victims a human face,
and to ensure that there is accountability.
The research was based in Sudan with particular focus on areas in which the conflict has been most
intense, like Darfur, Blue Nile, Kordofan, and other states. The information sought after was about the
human rights violations related to forced displacements, ethnic targeting, the ‘strange faces order’, and
the resulting impacts. The focus was on West Darfur where the majority of the forced displacement
victims were from the Masalit community together with other African tribes, whereas ethnic targeting
and the impact of the ‘strange faces order’ was across Sudan.
The information was gathered from primary and secondary sources. In total, fifty-five people were
interviewed. However not all the interviews were included in the report. The research team subjected all
interviews to further scrutiny and in the end twenty-two were used. The interviewees included the
Extremists demolish Pentecostal Church buildings in Khartoum - CSW
Please see an investigative report in Arabic written by a journalist in New Horizon magazine ( )مجلة أفق جديدabout cases of
the ‘strange faces order’ before the courts in Sudan: أفق جديد |مجلة افق جديد
10
Christians arrested after fleeing conflict, others report being pressured to convert - CSW
11
CSW concerned at increase in ethnically motivated attacks following SAF takeover of Wad Madani - CSW
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