Sudan conflict: UN reports rights abuses and war crimes

A U.N. fact-finding mission has reported severe human rights abuses and potential war crimes in Sudan's ongoing civil war, which erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The conflict has resulted in nearly 19,000 deaths and 33,000 injuries, with both factions accused of indiscriminate attacks on civilians. The RSF has been particularly implicated in widespread sexual violence, including the rape of individuals as young as eight and as old as 75. The report, led by Tanzanian judge Mohamed Chande Othman, emphasizes the urgent need for protective measures for civilians, urging both SAF and RSF to cease attacks on non-combatants and to halt acts of looting and torture. The mission has called for an expansion of the current arms embargo from the Darfur region to encompass all of Sudan, asserting that halting the flow of arms could lead to a cessation of hostilities. The international community's involvement has been scrutinized, with concerns raised about foreign governments potentially being complicit in human rights violations through their support of the warring parties. The U.N. investigators highlighted the necessity for an independent force to safeguard civilians amidst the escalating violence. Despite diplomatic efforts, including U.S.-led talks aimed at facilitating humanitarian aid access, there remains a significant lack of political will from both sides to agree on a ceasefire. The situation continues to deteriorate, with the humanitarian crisis deepening as the conflict persists, drawing attention away from other global issues.