The conflict in Sudan is taking an even more dangerous turn for civilians, the UN has warned.
The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Ravina Shamdasani, said in a press release on Friday that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, issued the warning following reports that dozens were brutally killed in ethnically targeted attacks in the southeastern state of Al Jazirah and amid reports of an imminent battle for control of Khartoum.
Türk expressed the remarks, contained in a press release, during the Geneva UN hybrid briefing, which was attended by representatives from the World Health Organization, UNICEF, UNHCR, and OHCHR, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the UN Trade and Development
“As the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) battled for control at all costs in the senseless war that had raged for close to two years now, direct and ethnically motivated attacks on civilians were becoming increasingly common,” reads the press release.
It notes that the situation for civilians in Sudan was already desperate, and there was evidence of the commission of war crimes and other atrocity crimes. The situation was now taking a further, even more dangerous turn.
In the last week alone, the UN Human Rights Office documented at least 21 deaths in just two attacks in Al Jazirah State, although the actual number of attacks directed at civilians and of civilians killed were very likely higher.
At least eight civilians were killed in Taiba Camp, and at least 13 women and one man abducted in an attack on January 10.
The next day, at least 13 civilians were killed, including two boys, in an attack on Khamsa Camp. Both camps were located about 40km from Wad Madani, the capital of Al Jazirah.
Reports suggested the attacks were carried out by the Sudan Shield Forces led by Abu Aqla Keikal, a former RSF commander who last October defected to SAF and that they targeted the Kanabi, a historically marginalised group comprised mainly of Nuba and other African communities.
OHCHR noted the Sudanese authorities’ assurance that the attacks, which came in the context of the recapture of Wad Medani by SAF, would be fully investigated and those responsible brought to justice, and that an investigation committee has been established.
The press release said OHCHR was once again calling on the President of the Transitional Sovereign Council and the Commander of RSF to end the fighting.
“The High Commissioner renewed his call on both parties to uphold obligations under international humanitarian law and international human rights law. Attacks must never be directed against civilians,” it said.