Advocacy group calls for UN and AU monitoring teams in Darfur

July 2, 2023 (KHARTOUM) – A Sudanese advocacy group has urged the United Nations Security Council and the Peace and Security Council of the African Union to deploy monitoring teams in the Darfur region in response to a recent increase in tribal violence.

The Zalingei Resistance Committees in Central Darfur State reported that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied militiamen had taken control of the state, resulting in widespread insecurity.

In West Darfur State, clashes between the Sudanese army and RSF forces escalated into a fierce tribal conflict, rendering the city uninhabitable.

The head of the Darfur Bar Association, Salih Mahmoud, expressed disappointment with the lack of response from the international community and called for immediate action.

Mahmoud plans to submit memorandums to various bodies, including the UN Security Council, the Peace and Security Council, the African Union, and human rights organizations, reminding them of their legal, political, and moral responsibilities regarding the situation in Darfur.

The humanitarian situation in Zalingei was described as catastrophic, with the city still under siege and facing power outages, internet disruptions, and a dearth of information regarding casualties.

Ongoing warfare between the army and paramilitary forces has resulted in approximately 2.5 million people fleeing their homes, enduring dire humanitarian conditions.

Mahmoud further criticized the army’s lack of intervention in protecting citizens in the capital of Central Darfur while also expressing concerns about restricted aid, relief, and medicine access, potentially leading to sieges in other cities and endangering civilian lives.

(ST)