OSINT of Sudan
This post is part of UNISHKA Research Service’s ongoing OSINT series. If you’re interested in learning more, subscribe to our Substack and follow us on social media to stay in the loop. You can also visit our website to explore all the toolkits we’ve created so far: www.unishka.com/osint-world-series.
We regularly share country-specific OSINT toolkits, along with case studies, investigative tips, and real-world examples to support open-source investigations. Our goal is to provide journalists, analysts, and engaged citizens with actionable resources and insights.
If we’ve missed any good sources, just drop us a comment or send an email to abawer@unishka.com — we’ll make sure to add them to the toolkit!
Entry #36 OSINT World Series
Open Data Portals
Sudan Open Data— national statistics, socio-economic datasets and time series useful for context (population, administrative boundaries, indicators). Good for background, not individual records.
UN / Humanitarian datasets UNHCR - Sudan
Digital reports for Sudan — up-to-date internet & social media usage stats (helpful when prioritizing social platforms to search).
Sudan’s Conflict OSINT Resources
Sudan Shahid is a global collaborative effort tocollect, monitor, and analyze visual documentation of surging violence across Sudan.
The Sudan Conflict Observatory was remote monitoring platform provides independent, expert reporting on conflict activity in Sudan, including damage to infrastructure committed by combatants, military equipment movements, and rapid population shifts. Some of the reports are still available through web archive and George Mason University public libraries.
Sudanese Archive investigates human rights violations in Sudan through the data we archive, interviews we conduct and research conducted in Sudan and internationally. (Also available in Arabic).
Sudan Witness was launched in April 2023, and monitors, analyses, verifies, and archives information pertaining to human rights interferences and conflict incidents in Sudan’s current conflict. By doing so, the project is able to provide reliable information to stakeholders including humanitarian, media, and advocacy initiatives, as well as to justice and accountability mechanisms holding perpetrators to account.
(Guide) Satellite imagery could aid in seeking justice for human rights violations in Sudan
Company Registries and Data
Commercial Registrations Department (Ministry of Justice) — the official commercial register for Sudan (company name searches and registration are handled here). Historically the site is Arabic and limited in data fields. (The Website seems to be down at the time of writing this post.)
“MoFin-List Translated_All tables.pdf” from Sudan Transparency and Policy Tracker (STPT) — is a publicly released list of state-owned or state-controlled companies/entities in Sudan, along with detailed registration data.
OpenCorporates — Sudan index — aggregated pointer for company-level data and links where available (can save time if the official site is down).
The “Registration Authorities List” published by GLEIF is a global catalog of over 1,050 registries, business-register offices, and other competent authorities in 232 jurisdictions. Sudan (country code “SD”) appears among the jurisdictions listed by providers supporting LEI registration.
Company Directory (Sudan) - TradeHolding - 716 Companies Listed
Geospatial Data and Maps
OpenStreetMap / HOT (Humanitarian OSM Team) — detailed mapping (roads, buildings, POIs) for urban areas like Khartoum and other mapped sites.
(News) Satellite images reveal mass killing sites in Sudan’s el-Fasher city
Flight & Vessel Tracking
People Search
Tips for searching people in Sudan:
Search names in Arabic and common Latin transliterations; include patronymics and tribal/ethnic variants.
Use hashtags (#مفقود, #مفقودين, #SudanMissing, etc.) when posting on social media — this increases visibility beyond your immediate contacts.
Use reverse image search on profile photos, and geolocate photos with OSM/Google Earth.
Expect lower public data coverage and significant privacy/operational risk in conflict zones — be cautious about safety and legality of searches.
Use DataReportal figures to choose platforms (Facebook and messaging apps remain important in Sudan).
Sudan people groups, languages, and religions - Joshua Project
What is the best way to find a missing person in Sudan due to the conflict?
The single most important resource for finding a missing person in Sudan is the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Sudanese Red Crescent. Their Restoring Family Links program is specifically designed to help locate people separated by conflict. You should contact them directly with all the information you have. Additionally, monitoring social media groups and diaspora networks is best, as they are used to share information about missing persons.
Mafqood Mawjood - A mobile app / online platform where people can post announcements about missing persons (but also lost items, documents, vehicles). Available on Android and iOS.
Media Outlets
Major Sudanese Media Outlets
Sudan TV (via SNBC) is the main government-owned television network, historically the primary national broadcaster.
Radio Dabanga — operating from exile — remains one of the few independent news broadcasters still reliably producing reports about Sudan, across radio, satellite TV and online platforms.
International Media Outlets
EMERGENCY is an international humanitarian NGO, originally founded in Italy, that works in conflict zones and crisis areas around the world, providing medical care, surgeries, clinics, pediatric care, etc. The page is part of their “From the Field” blog — i.e. direct updates from their operations on the ground in Sudan.
Some Notable NGOs Operating in Sudan
Public Procurement
Other Toolkits and Guides
The Berkeley Protocol identifies international standards for conducting online research of alleged violations of international criminal, human rights, and humanitarian law. The Protocol provides guidance on methodologies and procedures for gathering, analysing, and preserving digital information in a professional, legal, and ethical manner. Useful for journalists reporting on the conflict in Sudan.
Monitoring Sudan’s artisanal and small scale gold mining from space
Bellingcat is a collective of open source investigators who use digital technologies and open source information to investigate and report on conflict, politics, and human rights abuses. They provide a useful and constantly updated set of resources for those undertaking open source investigations.
Miscellaneous
(Paid) Knowlesys - Sudan OSINT
Want more tools? Check out our full collection of OSINT resources here: https://unishka.com/resources/
You can also visit our website to explore all the toolkits we’ve created so far: www.unishka.com/osint-world-series.
If we’ve missed any good sources, just drop us a comment or send an email to abawer@unishka.com — we’ll make sure to add them to the toolkit!