Press release
Geneva – January 18, 2024
The UN expert on human rights in Sudan, Radwan Nouicer, deplored the grim human rights situation in the country as the brutal armed conflict entered its 10th month and urged the leaders of the two parties to the conflict to immediately end the violence, ensure a transition to civilian rule heed the calls of victims for peace and justice.
“Despite several regional and international mediation initiatives, there is still no peaceful solution in sight, and the people of Sudan continue to bear the brunt of the endless cycle of violence; every day yields new accounts of human suffering, destruction, and displacement,” said Nouicer.
“As fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces spreads across the country, violations of human rights and international humanitarian law are continuing unabated, and it is crucial that leaders of both parties show more political will to put an end to violence and silence the guns,”
In his regular meetings with Sudanese civil society representatives, he has heard horrific reports of human suffering, including hundreds of suspected cases of enforced disappearance and multiple cases of arbitrary detention by both parties of the conflict; he said: “I have also heard deeply disturbing accounts of sexual violence against women and girls, most of them allegedly perpetrated by members of the Rapid Support Forces and allied militias.” said the expert.
The UN expert denounced the escalation of ethnically motivated violence and hate speech, particularly in the Darfur region and in West Darfur, where the Rapid Support Forces and allied Arab militias have repeatedly attacked members of the African Masalit community.
Both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces have publicly pledged to investigate gross violations and abuses committed during the conflict and break the cycle of impunity that is at the root of the ongoing tragedy, but so far, no action has been taken to prosecute perpetrators, nor findings of investigations made public,” said Nouicer.
The UN expert called on both parties to ensure all violations and abuses of international human rights law and violations of international humanitarian law are promptly and thoroughly investigated and those found responsible held to account. It also called on both sides to ensure safe, effective, and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid to the civilian population.
He also appealed to the international community to work together, issue a coherent, comprehensive, unified, and coordinated roadmap to help end the violence engulfing Sudan and support a Sudanese national dialogue involving political parties and civic groups, including women’s and youth associations, leading to the transfer of power to a civilian-led transitional government.
Since the beginning of the conflict
in April last year, thousands of civilians were killed or injured. Both parties have shown a complete disregard for international human rights law, as well as international humanitarian law, in particular the principles on the conduct of hostilities, displaced more than 7.6 million people from their homes, including more than 1.5 million to neighboring countries, and at least 25 million people across Sudan need assistance, including 14 million children.
