On 19 April 2026, Sudanese state security prosecution authorities initiated criminal proceedings against lawyer and human rights defender Rehab Mubarak Sayed Ahmed, a member of the Emergency Lawyers group, along with at least 22 other lawyers and activists. The cases were filed under Articles 50 and 51 of the 1991 Sudanese Criminal Act, which relate to undermining the constitutional order and waging war against the state. The charges stem from media statements addressing a procurement process involving large quantities of chlorine gas for the Khartoum State Water Authority.
In those statements, concerns were raised about the transparency of the tender process, the absence of open competition, and the potential dual-use risks of the substance in the context of ongoing armed conflict. Authorities have ordered the accused to appear before the prosecution within a specified time-frame and have called on security forces and the public to assist in their apprehension. Given that some of those targeted are outside the country, further measures may be pursued, including the issuance of international alerts and actions that could affect their assets within Sudan. The case has sparked concern among civil society and human rights organizations, which view it as indicative of increasing pressure on civic actors, including lawyers and human rights defenders. Legal experts have also warned that the use of serious criminal provisions in such contexts may undermine confidence in the justice system and further restrict civic space, particularly amid ongoing conflict and rising political tensions in Sudan.