Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have joined forces to demand an end to the torture and abuse of demonstrators in Sudan. 

They have said that:

"The Sudanese authorities should immediately stop the torture and ill-treatment of those detained following demonstrations since mid-June 2012".

They also called for the immediate release of anyone arrested for participating in peaceful protests. Domestic groups monitoring the arrests estimate that since June the Sudanese security forces have detained approximately 2,000 people in connection with the youth-led protests in Khartoum and other major towns across Sudan. 

Although difficult to confirm, reports suggest that around 100 people remain in detention in the capital alone. 

The National Security Services have been reacting heavy-handedly to the relatively small-scale protests since they began including using tear gas and rubber bullets on the predominantly young demonstrators. 

The situation appears to be escalating as pro-government protesters have also been reported as taking to the streets armed with sticks and knives. 

Also a major concern is the treatment of journalists covering the unrest. A number have been arrested and deported for attending the protests. Concerns are especially high for Shaimaa Adel, an Egyptian editor for El-Watan, a private Egyptian daily, and Marwa al-Tigany, a Sudanese freelance journalist, who have been detained for over a week. 

Protests have been taking place on a near daily basis for almost a month, and currently show no sign of ceasing.