HRW calls on African Union to deploy civilian protection mission to Sudan
June 20, 2024 (NAIROBI) – In response to the ongoing atrocities in Sudan, Human Rights Watch (HRW) is urging the African Union (AU) to work with the United Nations to deploy a civilian protection mission and initiate strong human rights investigations.
The call comes ahead of the AU Peace and Security Council’s meeting on June 21, where concrete steps to protect civilians and ensure accountability are expected to be discussed.
The devastating conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has caused widespread humanitarian suffering and serious human rights abuses. HRW highlights that both sides are responsible for international humanitarian law violations, with the RSF and allied forces accused of crimes against humanity and war crimes against specific ethnic communities in West Darfur.
Allan Ngari, Africa advocacy director at HRW, stressed the need for urgent action by the AU Peace and Security Council. He stated, “The Peace and Security Council should spell out what urgent steps it plans to take to ensure the deployment of a United Nations-backed civilian protection mission and to support investigations by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.”
The requested mission would focus on protecting civilians, monitoring human rights abuses, and facilitating the safe return of displaced people. HRW emphasizes the urgency of addressing the crisis, citing a recent RSF attack that reportedly killed dozens of people, including children.
The call for a civilian protection mission is backed by UN Security Council resolution 2736, which demands an end to the siege on El Fasher and protection for civilians. HRW also urges the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights to initiate prompt and thorough investigations into the human rights situation in Sudan.
The organization emphasizes the importance of collaboration between the AU and international partners to support these investigations and ensure accountability. The AU’s response should reflect the scale of the crisis, and its leaders should demonstrate their commitment to preventing further atrocities against civilians in the region.
HRW’s statement calls for decisive action by the African Union and the international community to address the escalating humanitarian crisis in Sudan. The deployment of a civilian protection mission and robust human rights investigations are seen as critical steps to protect civilians and ensure accountability for the ongoing atrocities.