Photo: AP Mohamed Chande Othman, chairman of the Sudan fact-finding mission, during the unveiling of the report at the United Nations European headquarters in Geneva, September 6, 2024
Christophe Vogt – Agence France-Presse in Geneva
Published yesterday at 8:47 p.m.
- Africa
Faced with the atrocities committed by the warring parties in Sudan, UN experts on Friday called for the “immediate deployment” of an “independent and impartial” force to protect civilians.
These experts, mandated by the Human Rights Council, concluded in a report presented in a press release that the two warring parties “have committed a horrific series of human rights violations and international crimes, many of which can be qualified as war crimes and crimes against humanity.”
“The gravity of these findings underscores the urgency of immediate action to protect civilians,” stressed Mohamed Chande Othman, the chair of the fact-finding mission on Sudan.
It was established late last year by the Human Rights Council to document human rights violations committed in the country since the start of the war in April 2023. The conflict pits the army, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhane, against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of General Mohamed Hamdan Daglo.
The war has left tens of thousands dead and displaced more than 10 million people, particularly in neighboring countries, according to the UN. It has also caused a very serious humanitarian crisis.
Protecting civilians
“Given that the warring parties have not spared civilians, it is imperative that an independent and impartial force with a mandate to protect civilians be deployed without delay,” Mr. Othman demanded. Her colleague, Mona Rishmawi, points out that several models exist, whether UN peacekeepers as in neighbouring South Sudan or a regional interposition force of the African Union for example.
200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000The experts, who do not speak on behalf of the UN, insisted on the fact that “the protection of the civilian population is essential” for this country where half of the population – or 25 million people – suffer from malnutrition.
They also called for a ceasefire and regretted that the Sudanese authorities had turned a deaf ear to the 4 requests to be able to visit the country. The report sent to the government for comment as is customary has also remained unanswered.
Large-scale violations
The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), as well as their respective allies, “have been found responsible for large-scale violations, including direct and indiscriminate attacks through airstrikes and shelling against civilians, schools, hospitals, communications networks and vital water and electricity supplies,” the statement said.
The warring parties have also targeted civilians “through rape and other forms of sexual violence, arbitrary arrest and detention, and torture and ill-treatment.”
All of these violations may “amount to war crimes,” the report said.
The experts highlighted “the horrific attacks perpetrated by the RSF and its allies against non-Arab communities – particularly the Masalit in and around El-Geneina, West Darfur.”
They noted killings, torture, rape and other forms of sexual violence, destruction of property and looting.
“There are also reasonable grounds to believe that the acts committed by the RSF and its allied militias amount to numerous crimes against humanity.”
Arms embargo and the ICC
The experts — who met with refugees from the conflict in Sudan’s neighbouring countries and 182 direct victims of abuses or their relatives — want the arms embargo to be extended to the whole of Sudan. They also call on the authorities to cooperate with the International Criminal Court and hand over former dictator Omar al-Bashir.
They also call for the establishment of an international judicial mechanism dedicated solely to Sudan.
Joy Ngozi Ezeilo regretted that the tragedy in Sudan was not making headlines. “It is truly heartbreaking and the world absolutely must do much more,” the expert said, adding: “This must be at the heart of international discussions.”