Campaigns by civilians and SAF to designate Sudan’s RSF janjaweed militia as a terrorist organisation

NOTE from Sudan Watch Editor: Today, I signed the below mentioned petition calling for Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to be designated a terrorist organisation. I signed it hoping to help eradicate poverty, extreme poverty and suffering in Sudan, South Sudan and neighbouring countries. 

In Sudan, the RSF are trapping civilians in villages in RSF controlled areas by surrounding them and cutting off access to food and medicines, forcing them to drink water from the Nile, using them as human shields to protect themselves and deter bombings by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).

It must be noted that the SAF are responsible for many atrocities since the start of the Darfur rebellion in 2003. SAF chief Gen. Burhan’s dereliction of duty caused 120 peaceful protestors to be slain on the streets of Khartoum. 

*The "killing of at least 120 pro-democracy protesters in 2019 were a flashpoint between activists and the military. Sudanese pro-democracy protesters demanded the Transitional Military Council hand over power to civilians, but they were attacked by the military on June 3, 2019.

The killings, carried out by military forces in an effort to disperse a sit-in calling for civilian rule and democracy, marked a pivotal moment for Sudan after the April 2019 overthrow of former President Omar al-Bashir.”

*Read full story at Al Jazeera, 3 June 2024, here:

What was the ‘Khartoum Massacre’ marked by Sudan’s activists?

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/6/3/what-was-the-khartoum-massacre-marked-by-sudans-activists

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Related Report

From Middle East Monitor

By Mohamed Suliman

Dated 06 November 2024 - excerpt:

There is a strong case for designating Sudan’s RSF militia as a terrorist organisation

A view of streets as clashes continue between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) despite the agreement on cease fire in Khartoum, Sudan on April 30, 2023 

[Ömer Erdem/Anadolu Agency]

Recently, there have been several social media campaigns and online petitions that call for the RSF’s designation. Individuals who are participating in these campaigns are sharing examples of incidents that expose how the RSF Janjaweed militia is attacking and harassing them. All of these grassroots initiatives demonstrate the public support for a terrorist designation of the militia”. 

Such a move will send a strong signal that the world rejects it and that the RSF can’t be part of Sudan’s political future. Moreover, it will have a practical impact on limiting the arms supply and funding from countries that back the militia, such as the UAE, which will be legally obliged to abstain from this destructive role.

Read more (and see its pale green share this icon to see dozens of ways to repost the article containing news of the campaigns and online petitions) here: https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20241106-there-is-a-strong-case-for-designating-sudans-rsf-militia-as-a-terrorist-organisation/

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POSTSCRIPT from Sudan Watch Editor

Here is a comment by Musaab Yousif posted at above article 25 days ago. It tells a story almost identical to the one I've heard from someone in Sudan with family trapped inside a village surrounded by RSF and cut off from essential supplies and medicines, drinking polluted water from the Nile.

"The people of Hilaliya village in aljazeera state more than 3000 civilians including womens, children's, elders and peoples with chronic sickness are being held in three mosques a few meters away from their homes by RSF militia and are completely forbidden from reaching them. They are being ravaged by cholera, watery diarrhea, hunger and thirst... no medicine or food in a complete war crime by the RSF militia, in addition to the crimes of murder, looting and other violations committed by the militia against defenseless civilians to any one trying to get out .

#Save_Hilaliya_from_Janjaweed

#Rapid_Support_is_a_terrorist_organization"

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Weekly Sudan Updates

From journalist Abdallah Hussain posted at LinkedIn on 1 Dec 2024: 

🔴 Former Political Advisor to RSF Commander, Youssef Ezzat [pictured above]: The Islamic Movement is managing political and civil affairs in all areas under the control of the Rapid Support Forces with full authorization from the leadership.

🔴 Sovereign Council Chairman Al-Burhan denies rumors of political settlements, emphasizing no agreement with any entity. 

🔴 Health crisis deepens in Khartoum, with 73 out of 80 private hospitals out of service, according to the Sudanese Doctors Network.

🔴 Gunmen hijack a UNICEF truck in eastern Nile Khartoum carrying medicines and medical supplies.

🔴 Heavy artillery shelling shakes Omdurman’s Thawrat neighborhoods as early morning attacks continue. 

🔴 5 civilians injured following militia shelling in Karrari, Omdurman, as health authorities report more unregistered cases.

🔴 The Nile River State Security Committee denies reports of launching drones from residential areas near Atbara, labeling them as misinformation. 

🔴 Minister of Culture and Information Khalid Al-Ayser discusses plans to reform Sudanese media institutions and improve public messaging.

🔴 Broadcasting Authority reports $16 billion in losses due to militia attacks, with Minister Khalid Al-Ayser calling for international condemnation.

🔴 The Sudanese Foreign Ministry issued a statement condemning the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) for its recent allegations:

“We condemn the unfounded accusations and extreme bias against the government and the armed forces by the NRC.”

“The NRC Secretary-General unjustly implicated the armed forces in using starvation as a weapon and blocking humanitarian aid — a crime solely committed by the RSF militias.”

“The Secretary-General failed to name those responsible for destroying villages, employing scorched-earth policies, committing mass rapes, and other atrocities, which are well-documented crimes of the RSF militias.”

“The NRC’s Country Director in Sudan claimed before the UK’s House of Commons that humanitarian work regulations in Sudan are designed to obstruct aid delivery to those in need.”

“This aggressive stance by the NRC represents the worst example of politicizing humanitarian work and an attempt to tarnish the Sudanese government’s image internationally.”

🔴 The Federal Ministry of Health reported a rise in HIV/AIDS cases in Sudan, with 48,000 infections recorded. Of these, 19,549 individuals are aware of their condition, but only 8,607 are receiving treatment. The disease has caused 2,300 deaths. Minister Dr. Haitham Mohamed Ibrahim warned that the numbers could increase further due to violations by the RSF, including sexual assaults.

Source: Abdallah Hussain, LinkedIn

Bilingual Journalist | News Anchor | TV Host | News Correspondent | Content Creator

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Sudan’s man-made mass-deaths must & can stop. Sudan conflict devastates medical infrastructure

“THE situation in health clinics is beyond words,” said Amelie Chbat, who oversees health programs for the ICRC in Sudan, adding “The injured lack medicines, food, and water, and the elderly, women, and children are without essential treatments like dialysis or diabetes medications. And the situation is deteriorating.” Full story here below.

Sudan’s man-made mass-deaths must & can stop: 
NRC meets women who flee their homes under gunfire; pregnant women walking for days without shoes; people selling everything just to eat.
If nothing changes countless communities in Sudan will starve to death

NRC's @WillCarter_NRC⬇️ pic.twitter.com/1tt6DLin05

— Jan Egeland (@NRC_Egeland) August 9, 2024

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Related report

From Sudan Tribune
Dated Thursday, August 8, 2024 

'Sudan conflict devastates medical infrastructure: ICRC 

ICRC aid workers bid farewell to Sudanese women during an evacuation of orphans outside Khartoum on June 9, 2023

Sudan conflict devastates medical infrastructure says ICRC. Two out of three Sudanese civilians no longer have access to essential health services after most of the country’s hospitals and health centers were forced to close their doors, an aid agency said on Thursday.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said doctors and nurses have been killed and wounded, and many health facilities have been damaged by shelling and airstrikes since the conflict broke out in mid-April last year.

Repeated attacks on healthcare facilities and personnel have severe consequences amidst the worsening food crisis, the agency said, noting that healthcare centers are crucial for preventing, detecting and treating malnutrition.

Their ability to function is vital for the most vulnerable, including pregnant and lactating mothers and children under the age of five.

“The situation in health clinics is beyond words,” said Amelie Chbat, who oversees health programs for the ICRC in Sudan, adding “The injured lack medicines, food, and water, and the elderly, women, and children are without essential treatments like dialysis or diabetes medications. And the situation is deteriorating.”

The number of reports of looting and vandalizing healthcare facilities, threats and physical violence against staff and patients, and the denial of healthcare services to civilians is reportedly increasing. In addition, it stated, fighters and civilians die because they are prevented from receiving medical attention in time.

According to the aid agency, the entire communities are cut off from vital services, such as maternity care, childcare, and vaccinations due to the conflict.

The ICRC reminded the parties to the conflict that such actions will have severe and long-lasting consequences for the entire Sudanese population and that protecting healthcare is an obligation under international humanitarian law.

View original: https://sudantribune.com/article289300/#google_vignette

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Sudan: Tele-health clinic for people in Sudan available daily Khartoum time 10am-6pm, for next 3 months

💡! 🩺⚕️❤️‍🩹
Tele-#health clinic for people in #Sudan available daily Khartoum time 10am - 6pm, for at least the next three months. WhatsApp link in the post below.
Share onwards if you can https://t.co/cL7UJfFaox

— William Carter (@WillCarter_NRC) April 20, 2024

View original post and comments: 

https://twitter.com/WillCarter_NRC/status/1781764343647948894

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Sudan: Kordofan region becomes a new war zone. Dilling in South Kordofan is in peril due to armed conflict between three powerful warring parties

HERE is a copy of a Jan 12 post at X by Will Carter @WillCarter_NRC, Country Director for Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) in Sudan. Note that it says: "the entire State of South Kordofan has largely been cut off from vital humanitarian aid since April. Many civilians are trapped with no way to reach safer places. NRC staff in South Kordofan, like most civilians, have mostly been unable to communicate.  Kordofan region becomes a new war zone". Read full text below.

We're gravely concerned that another city in #Sudan, Dilling in South #Kordofan, is in terrible peril, due to armed conflict between three powerful warring parties.

Over the past few days, thousands of residents have been forced to leave, although the city is now surrounded by…

— William Carter (@WillCarter_NRC) January 12, 2024 

"We're gravely concerned that another city in #Sudan, Dilling in South #Kordofan, is in terrible peril, due to armed conflict between three powerful warring parties. 

Over the past few days, thousands of residents have been forced to leave, although the city is now surrounded by these military, paramilitary, and rebel forces and some are unable to flee. 

A looming threat of #ethnic violence hangs over Dilling and beyond. Further, the entire State of South Kordofan has largely been cut off from vital humanitarian aid since April, due to unsafe roads, denied permissions for #humanitarian workers, frequent clashes, and a significant presence of armed groups. 

Many civilians are trapped with no way to reach safer places. This may be the first time since April that Sudan has seen its three most powerful forces engaged in a single battle, marking a troubling new phase in this escalating and fragmenting civil war. 

Our staff in South Kordofan, like most civilians, have mostly been unable to communicate. Although we are in daily contact, how this armed conflict will affect the millions of people in the greater (and extremely neglected) Kordofan region is an anxious uncertainty. 

As the Kordofan region becomes a new #war zone, it's crucial that all warring parties prioritise protecting civilians, allow safe passage for those fleeing, and ensure unrestricted access for humanitarian efforts. Unfortunately, this hasn't happened so far."

9:55 AM · Jan 12, 2024
https://twitter.com/WillCarter_NRC/status/1745746200832176454

ENDS

Sudan: ICRC please help the children evacuated from Mygoma Orphanage in Khartoum to Wad Madani

PLEASE help these children, their carers and Radwan Abdel-Jabbar, one of the workers at Mygoma Orphanage who has made a desperate plea for help in the video below. 300 orphans were dramatically evacuated by ICRC on 7 June 2023 from the Mygoma Orphanage in Khartoum and taken to safety in Wad Madani, Aj Jazirah State where 200 are now in need of urgent help.

A translation of the below copied videos posted at X says: "The head of the Meguma Orphanage through tears urges leaders and international organizations to help evacuate 200 children, most of them with disabilities, and orphanage staff as soon as possible. The situation is getting worse in Madani ( #السودان ). 200 children with disabilities whose lives are in danger! #KeepEyesOnSudan"

رئيس دار أيتام ميجوما بالدموع يحث القادة والمنظمات الدولية على المساعدة في إجلاء 200 طفل، معظمهم من 

ذوي الإعاقة، وموظفي دور الأيتام في أقرب وقت ممكن. الوضع يزداد سوءا في مدني (#السودان).

٢٠٠ طفل من ذوي الاعاقة حياتهم في خطر !#KeepEyesOnSudan

pic.twitter.com/SF8eRF1yCz

— Ahmedöv (@a5medv) December 20, 2023

رئيس دار أيتام ميجوما بالدموع يحث القادة والمنظمات الدولية على المساعدة في إجلاء 200 طفل، معظمهم من ذوي الإعاقة، وموظفي دور الأيتام في أقرب وقت ممكن. الوضع يزداد سوءا في مدني (#السودان).

٢٠٠ طفل من ذوي الاعاقة حياتهم في خطر !#KeepEyesOnSudan

pic.twitter.com/SF8eRF1yCz

— Ahmedöv (@a5medv) December 20, 2023

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Related

Sudan Watch - May 29, 2023

Khartoum orphanage - 50 children including 24 babies died as fighting prevented staff reaching them

https://sudanwatch.blogspot.com/2023/05/khartoum-orphanage-50-children.html

END

Sudan: Sennar, where thousands of people fleeing Wad Madani have arrived, is a panicked city says NRC

#Sudan: @AhmedOmer, Communications Coordinator in Sudan describes the current situation in Sennar, where thousands of people fleeing Wad Madani have arrived. pic.twitter.com/yq2oftVm7G

— NRC East Africa and Yemen (@NRC_EAY) December 19, 2023

Transcript of sub-titles taken from the above audio clip:

Ahmed Omer’s voice 

Communications Coordinator at NRC [Norwegian Refugee Council] in Sudan 

"They are hungry, they are panicked, they are ill and the situation in the city is getting difficult. There is no fuel in the city even for the cars. That is why the transportation fees is increasing. There is no fuel. Even in the black market it is difficult to find and when you find it is more than 50,000 SDG per a gallon of petrol.

People here in Sennar, are trying to get in vehicles, whatever vehicle you find, you just jump on to it, particularly trucks, the pickup trucks and the bigger trucks. They jump on it. I saw this on the streets. They just jump. But for the families, for women and children, it’s really difficult. So they are trying to hire buses or to take buses. And buses are limited here. 

So what I’m seeing here right now in front of me are people on the streets, in the streets just carrying their luggages and walking, just people walking. It reminds me of Khartoum and what happened there when we saw people walking. When we saw the pictures of people walking, taking the luggages with them. So it’s a panicked city".

END

Sudan: "300,000 fled in 72 hrs with little to survive on. Most in makeshift shelters with no food. We're giving relief items tomorrow in Sennar & Gedaref. But we've little left. This is catastrophic". -Will Carter, NRC

UN is saying up to 300,000 people have left Gezira state since the RSF advance began on Friday, mostly to states that are already full to capacity.

300,000 people fled in 72 hours.
There's so little for them to survive on; most live in makeshift shelters with no food.
We're finishing needs assessments & starting distributions of relief items tomorrow in Sennar, then Gedaref. But we've little left.

This is catastrophic. https://t.co/CsM2cikhQ9 pic.twitter.com/CR3kRgmEd3

— William Carter (@WillCarter_NRC) December 18, 2023

END

Sudan: Hundreds of thousands who fled Khartoum warfare & airstrikes are now facing it in Wad Madani

#Sudan: “This is a terrible turn of events. Hundreds of thousands of people who fled from urban warfare and airstrikes in Khartoum are now facing this all again in a place they thought was safe.” @WillCarter_NRC to @guardianhttps://t.co/xFUQfNkBDg

— NRC East Africa and Yemen (@NRC_EAY) December 18, 2023

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Thousands flee Wad Madani, Sudan's second city, to escape fighting

Click here to view the above report at The Guardian online

Written by Zeinab Mohammed Salih in Khartoum 

Dated Saturday, 16 December 2023 17.58 GMT - excerpt:

In Djibouti last weekend the two warring sides committed to pursuing a ceasefire under the Intergovernmental Authority on Development’s facilitation, an east African political body, but the army on Thursday bombed the city of Neyala, the capital of South Darfur state, killing many people, among them several civilians. Neyala is now being controlled by the RSF after intense fighting that lasted for months. Three other major states have fallen under the RSF, leaving only North Darfur under the army control.

Several aid organisations have suspended their work in Madani, which had become a hub for humanitarian work after war broke out in Khartoum, following the latest developments.

“We have paused our work in Wad Madani while conflict has erupted there, we will resume as soon as possible,” said William Carter, the country director of the Norwegian Refugee Council.

“The numbers of people displaced are already in their thousands, and likely to grow as the fighting continues. We’ve dispatched emergency response teams to areas that people are fleeing to, such as Sennar and Gedaref states.

“This is a terrible turn of events. Hundreds of thousands of people who fled from urban warfare and airstrikes in Khartoum are now facing this all again in a place they thought was safe.”

A boy displaced by the conflict in Wad Madani walks with his belongings on 16 December. Photograph: AFP/Getty Images

END

Sudan: Statement by Will Carter, country director of NRC in Sudan, on ongoing attack in Al Jazirah State

THE following post by NRC published today (Sun 17 Dec) at X was reposted at X by Jan Egeland @NRC_Egeland Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) @NRC_Norway @Flyktninghjelp. The post says: 

"Wad Madani has been a place of refuge for those displaced from Khartoum, including for humanitarian and medical evacuation efforts. Now the fighting is approaching, and heavy artillery and gunfire have been heard for three days. “A continuous flow of people, many of them who already ran for their lives just a few months ago, are now rushing towards already fragile neighbouring states. -Will Carter, Country Director, Norwegian Refugee Council in Sudan NRC” -Norwegian Refugee Council (@NRC_Norway) December 17, 2023"

The post attaches another post by NRC published today at X, it says:

"We are deeply concerned about the escalating conflict at the doors of Wad Madani in #Sudan, where 700,000 people live, including many who have sought refuge after fleeing Khartoum. Statement by @WillCarter_NRC"

Wad Madani has been a place of refuge for those displaced from Khartoum, including for humanitarian and medical evacuation efforts. Now the fighting is approaching, and heavy artillery and gunfire have been heard for three days. https://t.co/GFp9nxrXH2 pic.twitter.com/cTvbPqPlbs

— Norwegian Refugee Council (@NRC_Norway) December 17, 2023

Note, the post provides a link to a statement by Will Carter, country director of NRC in Sudan. The statement is copied in full here below.

Also, a post by @WillCarter_NRC today at X, says: 

"Civilians who fled Khartoum’s urban war zone are displaced again—it’s terrifying & traumatising. We’re doing our best to quickly respond to emergency needs: mobilised teams + sent remaining supplies to Sennar & Gedaref; supporting local responders expand the collective shelters. 11:36 AM · Dec 17, 2023"

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Statement from the website of Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC)

Published Sunday, 17 Dec 2023 - here is a copy in full:

Statement on ongoing attack in Al Jazirah State, Sudan 

Statement by William Carter, the Norwegian Refugee Council’s country director of NRC in Sudan on ongoing attack in Al Jazirah State. 

“The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is deeply concerned about the escalating conflict at the doors of Wad Madani, the densely populated capital state of Al Jazirah, Sudan, where 700,000 people live, including 84,000 people who have sought refuge after fleeing Khartoum.  

“Wad Madani has been a place of refuge for those displaced from Khartoum, including for humanitarian and medical evacuation efforts. Now the fighting is approaching, and heavy artillery and gunfire have been heard for three days.  

“A continuous flow of people, many of them who already ran for their lives just a few months ago, are now rushing towards already heavily burdened and resource-depleted cities in neighbouring states. We are also extremely worried for highly vulnerable families in Wad Madani who have been crammed into displacement sites in schools for months and have nowhere to hide from violence, no means to escape and nowhere else to flee.  

"This is more than another city being attacked, it is one of Sudan’s few remaining sanctuaries that could be under fire.  

“We urgently call on all parties involved in the conflict to adhere to international humanitarian law, emphasizing that all feasible precautions must be taken to avoid and minimize the loss of civilian life and injuries, as well as damage to civilian objects. We also demand that all parties allow for the safe passage of individuals fleeing the conflict and the urgent delivery of lifesaving assistance.”    

Note to editors:  

 

* There are more than half a million people displaced within in Al Jazirah, including 145,000 people who are crammed in public buildings, such as schools.  

* At the time of writing, an estimated 15,000 people are now fleeing the city towards neighbouring states.  * About 1.9 million people are in crisis (IPC 3) and above levels of food insecurity in Al Jazirah state, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC).   

* NRC is present in Wad Madani since June 2023, and supported more than 34,000 people in the city since the war.    

For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:  

 

* NRC Sudan Advocacy Manager (currently in Nairobi), Mathilde Vu: mathilde.vu@nrc.no, WhatsApp +249 911 219 775  

* NRC global media hotline: media@nrc.no, +47 905 62 329  

Label: Sudan 

View original: https://www.nrc.no/news/2023/december/statement-on-ongoing-attack-in-al-jazirah-state-sudan/ 

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