The ongoing humanitarian crisis in Sudan’s el-Fasher highlights the urgent need for global intervention in regions plagued by human rights violations. As the United Nations Human Rights Council calls for investigations into the atrocities committed by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the plight of displaced civilians underscores the critical intersection of violence and accountability. This situation demands not only immediate humanitarian aid but also a concerted international effort to uphold justice and protect vulnerable populations.
The United Nations Human Rights Council has issued a resolution to investigate grave human rights abuses in Sudan’s el-Fasher, following reports of mass killings after the city’s takeover by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). This move comes in the wake of the RSF’s successful seizure of control on October 26, 2023, amid an ongoing power struggle with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) that has escalated since April 2023.
The resolution mandates the UN’s Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan to conduct an urgent investigation into the reported violations. It emphasizes the necessity of identifying suspected perpetrators to ensure accountability, responding to widespread alarms raised by human rights defenders and international observers regarding the alarming situation in el-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state.
Nearly 100,000 civilians have fled el-Fasher in recent weeks, as reports of indiscriminate attacks—including sexual violence—emerge from displaced populations. Survivors of the turmoil have recounted horrifying scenes of dead bodies littering the streets and the pervasive atmosphere of terror that has gripped the community since the RSF’s ascendancy.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk addressed the council, stating that the atrocities in el-Fasher were both anticipated and preventable, characterizing them as grave crimes against humanity. He expressed that the international community has a fundamental responsibility to intervene and halt the ongoing cruelty used to dominate the civilian population, emphasizing the urgency for action.
In response to allegations of civilian targeting, the RSF has denied any responsibility, asserting that violence is instigated by rogue elements within its ranks. Nonetheless, evidence collected by UN agencies and human rights groups has pointed to systematic mass killings reportedly perpetrated by the RSF. Sudanese medical personnel have also raised concerns over attempts to conceal evidence of these atrocities by burying the victims’ bodies.
With tens of thousands of civilians still stranded in el-Fasher, calls for a ceasefire and the establishment of humanitarian corridors have intensified. During the recent session of the Human Rights Council, Mona Rishmawi, a member of the UN’s independent fact-finding mission, detailed instances of rape, torture, and killings and advocated for a comprehensive inquiry to fully understand the extent of the crisis.
Additionally, Turk warned of escalating violence spreading to the nearby Kordofan region, where bombings, blockades, and forced displacements have been recorded. Averting a repeat of Darfur’s catastrophic history is vital, he remarked.
Even though the Human Rights Council lacks enforcement power, its capacity to spotlight violations plays a crucial role in documenting abuses for potential prosecution by bodies such as the International Criminal Court (ICC). The ICC has indicated that it is taking immediate steps to secure evidence for future prosecutions regarding the alleged crimes committed in el-Fasher as part of a continuing investigation addressing abuses in Darfur since the onset of conflict in April 2023.
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