Geneva-Al-Yurae- (AFP) – UN experts on Friday called for the deployment of an “independent and impartial” force without delay to Sudan, with the aim of protecting civilians in the face of atrocities committed by the warring sides.
The experts mandated by the Human Rights Council concluded in a report that the belligerents “have committed a horrific series of human rights violations and international crimes, many of which can be described as war crimes and crimes against humanity.”
Mohamed Shandy Osman, head of the fact-finding mission on Sudan, said: “The gravity of these findings underscores the urgent need for immediate action to protect civilians.”
The Human Rights Council established the mission at the end of last year with the aim of documenting human rights violations committed in the country since the outbreak of war in April 2023 between the army led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces led by his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.
The war has killed tens of thousands. While the actual toll of the conflict is unclear, it is estimated that it could reach “150,000”. It has also displaced more than ten million people inside Sudan or sought refuge in neighboring countries, according to UN figures. The battles caused widespread destruction to the country’s infrastructure, and more than three-quarters of health facilities were out of service.
Protection of civilians
“Given that the warring parties have not avoided (harming) civilians, it is imperative that an independent and impartial force with a mandate to protect civilians be deployed without delay,” Osman said.
These experts do not speak on behalf of the United Nations.
“The protection of the civilian population is critical and all parties must comply with their obligations under international law and cease all attacks against the civilian population immediately and unconditionally,” Osman said.
The experts, who are also calling for a ceasefire, have asked Sudanese authorities to allow them to visit the country four times. As is customary in these cases, the report was sent to the Government for comment, but remained unanswered.
Widespread violations
According to the report, the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces, along with their allies, “have been found responsible for widespread violations, including direct and indiscriminate attacks in the form of airstrikes and shelling against civilians, schools, hospitals, communications networks and vital supplies of water and electricity.”
The warring parties also targeted civilians “through rape and other forms of sexual violence, arbitrary arrests and detentions, as well as torture and ill-treatment.”
The report said they had committed enough violations that “constitute war crimes”.
The experts highlighted “horrific attacks committed by the RSF and its allies against non-Arab communities, particularly the Masalit in and around El Geneina in West Darfur.”
In this context, they referred to murder, torture, rape and other forms of sexual violence, destruction of property and looting.
“There are also reasonable grounds to believe that the actions committed by the RSF and allied militias constitute numerous crimes against humanity,” they said.
Arms embargo and the International Criminal Court
The experts, who have been able to meet people displaced from the conflict to Sudan’s neighbours, 182 direct victims of abuses and relatives of those victims, hope the arms embargo will extend to all of Sudan. They also call on the authorities to cooperate with the ICC and hand over former President Omar al-Bashir.
In addition, these experts call for the establishment of an international judicial mechanism dedicated to Sudan only.
“These findings should serve as a warning to the international community to take decisive action to support survivors, their families and affected communities, and to hold the perpetrators of these crimes accountable,” said Mona Rishmawi, a member of the mission.
