The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, stated that for almost a year, reports from Sudan have been depicting death, agony, and hopelessness due to the ongoing conflict and continuous violations of human rights, with no resolution in sight.

The report outlines various untargeted assaults carried out by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in heavily populated regions from April to December 2023. These attacks occurred in locations where internally displaced individuals sought refuge, specifically in Khartoum, Kordofan, and Darfur.

As of mid-December, the conflict has displaced over 6.7 million individuals in Sudan and neighboring countries. This number has now risen to over eight million.

The UN rights chief emphasized the urgent necessity to stop the ongoing conflict and put an end to the repeated disregard for consequences that sparked it.

Silence the guns

After conducting interviews with 303 individuals who were either victims or witnesses, including many in Ethiopia and eastern Chad, and examining various forms of evidence such as photographs, videos, satellite imagery, and publicly available information, it has been revealed that there is a recurring trend of attacks based on ethnicity, often involving advanced weaponry.

Both sides involved in the dispute utilized explosive weaponry that caused widespread damage, including missiles launched from combat planes, drones, anti-aircraft weapons, and artillery shells, in highly populated regions.

This week, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights examined a collection of reliable video footage that suggests a group of students traveling through North Kordofan state may have been decapitated by individuals wearing SAF uniforms in El-Obeid City. The victims were believed to be supporters of the Rapid Support Forces due to their perceived ethnicity.

On February 15th, the Office reported that a video was shared on social media depicting soldiers marching in the street with severed heads, while making derogatory comments about a certain ethnicity.

Mr. Türk emphasized the importance of silencing guns and ensuring the safety of civilians.

© UNOCHA/Ala Kheir

Females anticipating assistance distribution in Wad Madani, Sudan.

The number of deaths has climbed into the thousands.

The report showcases additional instances, such as in April, where eight missiles fired by the SAF caused the deaths of at least 45 civilians in Khartoum. In June, two artillery shells launched by the RSF struck a market in Omdurman, resulting in the deaths of 15 civilians. Furthermore, in September, 10 civilians were killed when RSF shells exploded in a bus station.

From May to November 2023, a report revealed that the RSF and their Arab militia comrades committed a minimum of 10 assaults targeting civilians in El-Geneina, the main city in West Darfur. These attacks resulted in the deaths of thousands, primarily from the Masalit ethnic group. In addition, the RSF and their allies were responsible for killings in Morni and Ardamata, where a mass grave containing at least 87 bodies was discovered.

, and rape are considered the most severe forms of sexual abuse.

Sexual abuse in the forms of violence, gang rape, and rape are regarded as the most extreme.

According to the report, as of December 15, 2023, a minimum of 118 individuals have been victims of sexual violence, including rape, gang rape, and attempted rape. This number includes 19 children.

The report indicates that numerous instances of criminal activity were carried out by members of RSF, both in residences and on public roads. One woman was reportedly confined in a structure and subjected to multiple instances of gang rape for a duration of 35 days.

The report revealed that both sides were actively seeking new members throughout the nation. The RSF was enlisting minors from Arab communities in Darfur and Kordofan, while a pro-SAF group called the People’s Authority to Support the Sudanese Armed Forces claimed to have armed 255,000 young males in various camps across Sudan.

According to the report, the SAF’s recruitment campaigns were also met with responses from African ethnic groups such as the Fur, Masalit, and Zaghawa.

Caution regarding acts of war crimes.

Mr. Türk stated that certain violations could potentially be considered as war crimes.

All accusations of breaking international human rights and humanitarian laws should be quickly and fairly investigated by unbiased and transparent authorities. Those found responsible must be held accountable.

The High Commissioner urged both sides involved in the conflict to guarantee swift and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance in all territories under their control.

The UN’s top human rights official stated that a trustworthy resumption of inclusive discussions is urgently required to establish a way forward in restoring a government led by civilians.

Source: news.un.org