Widespread war crimes committed in Sudan, says rights group
August 3, 2023 (NAIROBI) – The rival military factions involved in Sudan’s ongoing conflict committed “deliberate” and “discriminate” attacks against civilians in the country, a human rights group said in a report on Thursday.
Amnesty International documented what it says are extensive war crimes being carried out by the Sudanese military (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The report, ‘Death Came To Our Home’: War Crimes and Civilian Suffering In Sudan, documents mass civilian casualties in attacks by the two warring parties.
The report further details sexual violence against women and girls, targeted attacks on civilian objects such as hospitals and churches and extensive looting.
Some of the violations documented, such as attacks targeting civilians, attacks on humanitarian infrastructure, rape and other sexual violence, and pillage amount to war crimes. The report focuses primarily on Khartoum and West Darfur.
“Civilians throughout Sudan are suffering unimaginable horror every single day as the Rapid Support Forces and Sudanese Armed Forces recklessly vie for control of territory,” said Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General.
“People are being killed inside their homes, or while desperately searching for food, water and medicine. They are being caught in crossfire while fleeing, and shot deliberately in targeted attacks. Scores of women and girls, some as young as 12, have been raped and subjected to other forms of sexual violence by members of the warring sides. Nowhere is safe,” she added.
The report highlights the violence in Darfur, where the RSF and allied militias are causing untold death and destruction, is raising the spectre of the scorched earth campaign of previous decades, at times involving some of the same actors.
“The RSF and SAF, as well as their affiliated armed groups, must end their targeting of civilians, and guarantee safe passage for those seeking safety. Urgent steps must be taken to ensure justice and reparations for victims and survivors,” it said.
Since 15 April 2023, the SAF led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the RSF led by Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo have been fighting for control of Sudan.
According to the rights group, considering the scale of fighting and organization of both sides, the situation qualifies as a non-international armed conflict under the Geneva Conventions, stressing that certain serious violations of these rules constitute war crimes, for which individual soldiers and commanders can be held criminally responsible.
Also documented, Amnesty International said in its new report, were increased tension in West Darfur region, many ethnic Masalit people fled to eastern Chad.
People who fled El Geneina told the London-based rights group that the town had been attacked by heavily armed Arab militias, supported by RSF fighters.
On 28 May, dozens of civilians were reportedly killed in Misterei, a town south-west of El Geneina, when clashes broke out between RSF and allied militias, and Masalit armed groups. Residents also said they buried 58 civilians killed that day.
Meanwhile, the group urged the UN Security Council to swiftly extend the arms embargo that applies to Darfur to the whole of Sudan and ensure it is enforced.
“The international community should significantly increase humanitarian support for Sudan, and neighbouring countries must ensure their borders are open to civilians seeking safety,” stressed Callamard.
She added, “The international community must also immediately extend the existing arms embargo to all of Sudan and ensure its enforcement. Countries with significant leverage over the warring parties must use their influence to end the violations.
The London-based human rights organization further urged the UN Human Rights Council to heed to calls from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and establish an independent investigative and accountability mechanism to monitor, collect and preserve evidence of human rights violations in Sudan.
(ST)