In this interview, Sudanese human rights activist, Elbashir Idris, talks about why and how he started mapping and documenting human rights violations taking place in Sudan. Elbashir explains how he works and the importance of working closely with the online community to verify and cross-check open-source information. His work has been used by Sudanese Archive, an independent organisation that preserves, analyses, and memorialises digital records of human rights violations, conflict, and acts of resistance in Sudan. Open-source information has also allowed Elbashir to support the evacuation of civilians since the armed conflict broke out in April 2023.
Elbashir is aware of the security risks that come with his work, but he is very grateful to be a part of history and a member of the documentation community. In the framework of its ‘Capacity building for Sudanese civil society and legal actors – Breaking the cycle of impunity for international crimes’ project, Wayamo has created an online justice resource hub, which consolidates video interviews and print resources relating to the current conflict in Sudan, regional and international experiences with transitional justice, and tools that civil society actors can employ in response to ongoing violations in the country.
