Sudan UN OHCHR: El-Geneina uninhabitable, infrastructure destroyed, aid continues to be blocked

Report at Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights - ohchr.org
Published Saturday 24 June 2023 - here is a full copy:

Comment by UN Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani, raising alarm on killings of people fleeing El Geneina in West Darfur, Sudan

Interviews with people who have fled El-Geneina, West Darfur, into Adre in Chad have revealed horrifying accounts of armed “Arab” militia backed by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) killing people fleeing El Geneina on foot. Our UN Human Rights officers have heard multiple, corroborating accounts that “Arab” militia are primarily targeting male adults from the Masalit community. All those interviewed also spoke of seeing dead bodies scattered along the road – and the stench of decomposition. Several people spoke off seeing dozens of  bodies in an area referred to as Shukri, around 10km from the border, where one or more of the Arab militias reportedly has a base.

We are gravely concerned that such wanton killings are ongoing and urge immediate action to halt them. People fleeing El-Geneina must be guaranteed safe passage and humanitarian agencies allowed to access to the area to collect the remains of those killed.

Out of 16 people we have so far been able to interview, 14 testified that they witnessed  summary executions and the targeting of groups of civilians on the road between El-Geneina and the border – either the shooting at close range of people ordered to lie on the ground or the opening of fire into crowds. The testimonies recounted killings that took place on 15 and 16 June, but also in the past week. We understand the killings and other violence are continuing and being accompanied by persistent hate speech against the Masalit community, including calls to kill and expel them from Sudan.

One 37-year-old man said that from his group of 30 people fleeing to the Chad border, only 17 made it across. Some were killed after coming under fire from vehicles belonging to the RSF and “Arab” militia near the Chad border, while others were summarily executed, he said. Those who survived had their phones and money looted from them by armed men shouting: “You are slaves, you are Nuba”.

A 22-year-old woman gave similar accounts of killings. She told how one badly wounded young man had to be left on the ground, as they had no way of carrying him to safety across the border. “We had to leave him because we had only one donkey with us,” she said. It is difficult to estimate how many injured people may have been left to die in such circumstances.

Two interviewees testified separately that they, along with a group of people, were ordered by the RSF to leave El-Geneina. One said she was hit with sticks while being told to “get up and go to Chad – this is not your country.”

The High Commissioner for Human Rights calls on the RSF leadership to immediately, unequivocally condemn and stop the killing of people fleeing El-Geneina, and other violence and hate speech against them on the basis of their ethnicity. Those responsible for the killings and other violence must be held accountable.

El-Geneina has become uninhabitable. Essential infrastructure has been destroyed and movement of humanitarian aid to El-Geneina continues to be blocked. We urge the immediate establishment of a humanitarian corridor between Chad and El-Geneina, and safe passage for civilians out of areas affected by the hostilities. ENDS

For more information and media requests, please contact:

In Geneva
Ravina Shamdasani - + 41 22 917 9169 / ravina.shamdasani@un.org or
Liz Throssell + 41 22 917 9296 / elizabeth.throssell@un.org or
Jeremy Laurence +  +41 22 917 9383 / jeremy.laurence@un.org or
Marta Hurtado - + 41 22 917 9466 / marta.hurtadogomez@un.org

In Nairobi
Seif Magango - +254 788 343 897 / seif.magango@un.org

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View original: https://www.ohchr.org/en/statements-and-speeches/2023/06/comment-un-human-rights-spokesperson-ravina-shamdasani-raising

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EU vows to hold human rights violators in Sudan accountable: Violations are being documented

NOTE, this report says the EU welcomed the unanimous decision of the UN Security Council to extend until December 2023 the mandate of the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission (UNITAMS) in Sudan.

Report at Ahram Online 
By AFP Agence France Presse 
Dated Monday 5 June 2023 - full copy:

EU vows to hold human rights violators in Sudan accountable

The European Union (EU) said on Monday that human rights violations in Sudan are being documented, vowing to hold those responsible accountable.

Image: Smoke billows behind buildings from a reported fire in Khartoum, on June 5, 2023 .AFP

“Once again we remind the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of their obligations under international law to protect civilians and guarantee humanitarian access,” the EU tweeted on Monday.

The EU urged the warring parties in Sudan to cease hostilities immediately, allowing space for the resumption of a credible and inclusive political transition process, adding that it will continue to work with all regional and international stakeholders, including the African Union and the Special representative of the UN secretary-general for Sudan, to achieve these ends.

The statement welcomed the unanimous decision of the UN Security Council to extend until December 2023 the mandate of the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan to assist the political transition, progress towards democratic governance, the protection and promotion of human rights, and sustainable peace.

“We reaffirmed our support for the African Union’s Roadmap for the Resolution of the Conflict in Sudan and we are pleased that the extension of the UNITAMS mandate will help ensure inclusive and coordinated regional and international action, under African leadership, to secure a viable peace process, and the resumption of the transition to civilian government and democracy in Sudan,” the statement read.

Meanwhile, battles continued for the third consecutive day between the SAF and RSF in the city of Kutum, North Darfur, western Sudan. Clashes have spread to the Kfut area, the second largest city in the region.

On Sunday, the governor of West Darfur, Khamis Abakar, said there was "complete lawlessness" in the state.

"Armed men have taken over everything, and the situation is completely out of control," he said.

Darfur Governor Mini Minawi, a former rebel leader now close to the army, denounced on Twitter "looting" acts by armed groups, declared Darfur a "disaster zone," and appealed for help from the international community.

View original: https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/502357.aspx

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Image: Darfur Governor Minni Minnawi talks to the press last in Khartoum in February 2021.

Source: Sudan Tribune report (28 May 2023 'Darfur governor urges civilians to take up arms amidst escalating violence')

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IGAD: Burhan and Hemeti will be held accountable

Report from radiotamazuj.org

Dated Wednesday 17 May 2023 - full copy:

IGAD says belligerent Sudanese generals will be held accountable

IGAD’Executive Secretary Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu (L) and South Sudanese Acting Foreign Minister Deng Dau (R) addressing the press in Juba. (Photo: Radio Tamazuj)

(JUBA CITY) - The regional bloc, Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), on Wednesday, warned that the warring rival generals superintending the fighting in Sudan will be held responsible for ensuring crimes.

Clashes erupted on 15 April in the Sudanese capital Khartoum and other parts of the country between Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) loyal to Gen. Abdel Fataah al-Burhan who is also the country’s de facto leader and his deputy in the sovereign council and leader of the Rapid Support Forces, Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo as a result of a power struggle.

The warning follows talks in Juba between Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, IGAD’s Executive Secretary, and South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit on Wednesday.

Addressing a press conference at the Juba State House after the talks, Dr. Gebeyehu said the warring parties in Sudan will be held accountable.

“We are working with the International community, United Nations Security Council and African Union, and IGAD as a regional organization that clearly says that all parties are responsible for any atrocities which are going to happen in that country,” he said.

He said history will judge the leaders unless they stop the fighting.

“Also, we stress that they have the responsibility as a citizen of that country and as leaders of that country,” Dr. Gebeyehu said. “History will judge that tomorrow unless otherwise, they decided today to stop this thing. We are working in terms of accountability while we are pushing to bring these parties to the table of discussion.”

Meanwhile, South Sudan's Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Deng Dayu Dend said IGAD is ready to position all the efforts of its member states to help Sudan end the conflict.

“IGAD is very focused on the issue of cessation of hostilities, on the issue of stopping the current situation in Khartoum and other places and IGAD is ready to position all the efforts of IGAD countries to help this member state,” he said. “This is why the IGAD’s executive secretary has to come personally to meet with His Excellency President Salva Kiir Mayardit.”

In a virtual meeting held on April 16, the IGAD heads of state decided to send the presidents of South Sudan, Kenya, and Djibouti to Khartoum to engage the two belligerent leaders to resume talks about security and military reforms in Sudan.

View original: https://radiotamazuj.org/en/news/article/igad-says-belligerent-sudanese-generals-will-be-held-accountable

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