Sudan forms committee to probe war crimes by Rapid Support Forces
August 4, 2023 (KHARTOUM) – The Chairman of the Transitional Sovereign Council, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan Abdel-Rahman, on Friday established a committee tasked with investigating war crimes, human rights violations, and other crimes attributed to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The committee will be chaired by the representative of the Attorney General, with membership comprising officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, the Armed Forces, the Police, the General Intelligence Service, and the National Commission for Human Rights.
According to a statement released by the Sovereign Council, the committee’s primary responsibility is to document all the violations and crimes committed by the rebel Rapid Support Forces since April 15, 2023.
“The committee was assigned the responsibility of implementing all necessary legal actions against the leaders and members of the rebel forces, both within the country and abroad, as well as against anyone found to be involved in their activities, whether through participation, incitement, or assistance,” added the statement.
The Rapid Support Forces have been accused of arresting numerous civilians and subjecting some of them to torture. Additionally, reports indicate multiple cases of women being raped and girls kidnapped from various neighbourhoods in Khartoum state and the Darfur region.
Civilians have also accused the paramilitary forces of occupying their homes and looting their belongings, the same for the banks and commercial warehouses.
While the militia leader acknowledged the violations and promised to address them, on-ground practices have reportedly remained unchanged, with looting and theft now spreading to popular neighbourhoods in Khartoum.
Since its formation, the Committee has been actively involved in holding meetings and establishing numerous contacts with relevant authorities and law enforcement institutions. It has filed complaints encompassing crimes against humanity, war crimes, and genocide, specifically related to the incidents that took place in the state of West Darfur.
The committee will continue its efforts by conducting thorough investigations to identify the individuals responsible for the violations and crimes against civilians, the destruction of infrastructure, and the occupation of civilian properties. The goal is to bring those involved to a fair trial.
The committee has urged civilians to promptly lodge complaints detailing the violations they have experienced to the Public Prosecution offices in various states.
(St)