The human rights movement in Sudan traces back to the 1980s, with the establishment of the Sudanese Human Rights Organisation (SHRO) during the second democratic period (1985–1989). Operating in a relatively free environment under the democratic regime, various civil society organisations emerged, focusing on environmental issues, and human rights including women’s rights. However, after the 1989 military coup led by the National Islamic Front and Omar al-Bashir, the space for civil society vanished. Many human rights organisations, including SHRO, relocated to Egypt, the UK, and the USA, continuing their work in exile. Organisations like SHRO focused on documenting and monitoring human rights violations, which worsened under the Bashir regime. One of the most infamous abuses documented was the systematic use of torture in secret detention centers known as “ghost houses.” Thousands of Sudanese—politicians, students, and activists—were subjected to physical and psychological torture in these facilities.
Osman Hummaida, born in 1960, emerged as a fearless human rights defender in this challenging environment, dedicating his life to exposing human rights violations and seeking justice for victims. His human rights activism began during his time at the University of Khartoum, where he was a politically active student. After graduating, he worked at the Ministry of Finance in the early 1990s. While there, he was part of a group of civil servants mobilising others to lay down their tools in protest against the government’s repression of civil society organisations and opposition party members. When the government got wind of the upcoming protest, Osman was arrested, detained, and tortured in a secret detention center, often referred to as a “ghost house.” Following his release, he was dismissed from his job. In 1993, he fled to the United Kingdom, where he continued his work, focusing on supporting torture survivors and advocating for human rights in Sudan. He joined the Sudanese Group for Victims of Torture (SGVT), quickly rising to become its Executive Director. SGVT provided medical and psychosocial support to hundreds of Sudanese torture survivors in Sudan and outside Sudan, collaborating with institutions such as the El-Nadeem Centre in Cairo. The organisation published reports and raised international awareness about human rights violations in Sudan. Later, SGVT rebranded as the Sudan Organisation Against Torture (SOAT). Under his leadership, SOAT expanded its work, providing critical medical and legal support to victims while amplifying their voices on international platforms.
Osman regularly attended sessions of the UN Human Rights Committee, the UN Human Rights Council (HRC), and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (African Commission), advocating for action against human rights violations. His lobbying contributed to the UN Security Council’s decision to refer the Darfur situation to the International Criminal Court (ICC). A pioneer in human rights education, he led the 2003 Human Rights Conference in Khartoum, the first of its kind in Sudan. This landmark event brought together activists, academics, government officials, and international organisations, leading to recommendations for integrating human rights into Sudan’s education curriculum.
Recognising the power of strategic litigation, Osman worked closely with organisations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. He facilitated landmark cases before the African Commission and used international mechanisms to hold the Sudanese government accountable. His collaboration with the Darfur Consortium strengthened African-led advocacy for justice in the region.
On 24 November 2008, Osman Hummaida was detained in Sudan alongside his colleagues Amir Suleiman and Monim El Jack. The three had been advocating for human rights in Sudan, particularly focusing on international justice and the ICC investigation into crimes committed in Darfur. During their interrogation, the National Security Service (NSS) accused them of assisting the ICC’s probe into Darfur and subjected them to severe torture, denying Osman medical care before his release. Given the open-ended and serious accusations of spying leveled against them—amplified by pro-government Sudanese media—and the real risk of rearrest, Osman and Monim Elgak left the country in December 2008, as it was no longer safe for them to be in Sudan. In 2009, following the ICC’s issuance of an arrest warrant for President Omar al-Bashir, the Sudanese government retaliated by shutting down 13 key human rights organisations, confiscating their assets, and forcing Osman and his colleagues into exile once again.
While in exile in Kampala, Uganda, he co-founded the African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS), to bring more light to the human rights violations not only in Sudan but across the African continent. Through this new venture, Osman sought to build a network of advocates committed to justice, in a place where voices of hope could be united in a call for peace.
Osman was one of the founding members of the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Network and played a pivotal role in its early development. He attended the first conference, “Defending the Defenders”: a Human Rights Defenders Conference, held in Entebbe, Uganda, in 2005, where the foundation for the network was laid. Beyond the conference, Osman remained deeply engaged with the network, significantly enhancing DefendDefenders’ visibility, impact, and work in Sudan. His contributions strengthened the protection and promotion of the work of Sudanese HRDs, ensuring that their voices were heard even in the most repressive environments. His dedication to justice and human rights left a lasting imprint on the mission and growth of DefendDefenders, shaping its efforts to protect HRDs across the region.
On 17 April 2014, Osman passed away in Johannesburg, South Africa, marking a significant loss to the global human rights community. He was widely described as a dedicated and passionate advocate for justice and peace. In a tribute to him, DefendDefenders described him as “a leading Sudanese human rights defender and an inspiration to countless activists in the international and African human rights communities.”
Even after his passing in 2014, his legacy endures through his work and the many HRDs he mentored. His unwavering commitment to justice continues to inspire those fighting for a free and democratic Sudan.