News briefing
Translated and edited by: CFJ
Geneva: 18 June 2023
The spokesperson for the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Jeremy Laurence, reported the High Commissioner’s appalment at the killing of the governor of West Darfur, Khamis Abdullah Abbakar, on June 14, just hours after he was arrested by the Rapid Support Forces in El-Geneina, the capital of West Darfur.
Killed for TV statements:
In a briefing published by the Media Center of the Human Rights Council, the spokesperson for the High Commissioner stated that the killing of the governor of West Darfur, who was himself a Masalit, came just hours after he had criticized the RSF in a TV interview over ongoing attacks by RSF-mobilized “Arab” militias against the Masalit and critical infrastructure in El-Geneina, a situation he described as “beyond description”.
Calls for accountability:
Laurence also stressed that all those responsible for this killing must be held accountable, including those who bear command responsibility. Alongside liability of the direct perpetrator, Governor Abbakar was in RSF’s custody, and it was the RSF’s responsibility to keep him safe.
The spokesperson for the High Commissioner indicated that the killing of the governor of West Darfur was the second high-profile killing in El-Geneina in a matter of days, after the older brother of the traditional chief of the Masalit, Tariq Abdelrahman Bahreldin, was killed.
Calls for safe passage for civilians:
Laurence expressed the OHCHR’s deep concern about the escalation of hate speech in West Darfur. OHCHR has reviewed video clips recorded by members of “Arab” militia boasting about their “victories”. One video appears to show a militia member walking in an empty street saying: “now in Althawra neighbourhood… the killing of the Nuba has been successfully accomplished… the expulsion of the Masalit has been successfully accomplished… sons of dogs.”
Laurence called for justice and accountability for extrajudicial killings and all other violations and abuses that have occurred during this ongoing conflict.
