The Lawyers Admission Committee aligned with Sudan’s army-backed government in Port Sudan has suspended the licenses of 31 lawyers, accusing them of affiliation with the so-called Rapid Support Forces (RSF) political wing.
The committee’s decision, issued during its meeting on December 18, 2025, was based on several provisions of the 1983 Legal Profession Act (as amended in 2014), including Articles 25, 27, 65, and 66, which authorize suspension and revocation of membership in cases of serious professional misconduct.
According to the committee, investigations revealed that the suspended lawyers participated in forming the RSF’s political structure, an act it deemed incompatible with professional ethics and the neutrality required of lawyers. The committee emphasized that the legal profession is grounded in defending justice and upholding the rule of law, which contradicts any affiliation with groups described as “terrorist” or accused of war crimes, looting, and acts of violence against civilians.
The decision terminates the lawyers’ membership in the Sudanese Bar Association and bars them from practicing law, with formal notifications sent to relevant authorities for enforcement.
In response, the Sudanese Congress Party denounced the move, calling it illegitimate and politically motivated. It asserted that targeting 31 lawyers—some affiliated with the party’s legal sector and the “Samoud” coalition—constitutes an attempt to silence voices opposing the war and the militarization of state institutions.
The decision has sparked broad debate across Sudan’s legal and political circles, marking an unprecedented step against a large group of lawyers and raising questions about its implications for the country’s judicial and political landscape in the coming months.
