Following the release of its first report, the UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Sudan called for the deployment of an independent and impartial force to protect civilians from crimes committed by parties to the conflict, many of which may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Read more: Sudan: Fact-finding mission calls for immediate deployment of independent forces to protect civiliansThe mission’s report, released on Friday, found that the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), Rapid Support Forces (RSF), and their allies practiced widespread patterns of violations that included indiscriminate and direct attacks on civilians, schools, hospitals, civilian infrastructure, and other vital facilities.
The mission said the parties targeted civilians through rape and other forms of sexual violence, arbitrary detention and arrest, as well as torture and ill-treatment, all of which may amount to war crimes “involving attacks on life and limb and outrages upon personal dignity.”
Mohamed Chande Osman, head of the fact-finding mission, said the gravity of the report’s findings underscores the need for urgent and emergency action to protect civilians. “Given the failure of the parties to the conflict to spare civilians from harm, it is essential that an independent and impartial force mandated to protect civilians in Sudan be deployed immediately. “The protection of civilians is paramount, and all parties to the conflict should comply with their obligations under international law and immediately and unconditionally cease attacks against the civilian population.
Terrifying attacks
According to the FFM report, the RSF and allied militias committed “horrific attacks” against non-Arab communities – specifically against the Masalit community in and around El Geneina, West Darfur – including killing, torture, rape and other forms of sexual violence, destruction of property, and looting.
The report also found that there are “reasonable grounds to believe” that the RSF and allied militias committed other war crimes, including sexual slavery and recruitment of children under the age of 15, and other acts that may amount to crimes against humanity, including slavery, persecution on ethnic and gender grounds, and forced population displacement.
A tragedy that must end
The report recommended that the existing arms embargo in Darfur, pursuant to Security Council resolutions, should be extended to all of Sudan in order to stop the supply of arms, ammunition and other forms of logistical or financial support to the parties to the conflict and prevent further escalation. The report warned that those supplying weapons could be “complicit in serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law.”
The mission also called for the extension of the ICC’s jurisdiction stemming from Security Council Resolution 1593 on the situation in Darfur to the entire Sudanese territory, and the establishment of a “separate international judicial mechanism to work alongside and complement the ICC.”
Mona Rishmawi, a member of the mission, said: “The findings of this investigation should serve as a clarion call for the international community to take decisive action to support survivors, their families and affected communities and hold perpetrators accountable. A comprehensive transitional justice path should be pursued to address the root causes of the conflict and achieve accountability.”
Joy Ngozi Ezeilo, a member of the fact-finding mission, emphasized that the Sudanese people are suffering an “unimaginable” tragedy, stressing the need to prioritize a sustainable ceasefire to end the fighting and allow humanitarian access to the civilian population.
The report is based on investigations conducted between January and August 2024, as mandated by the Human Rights Council, which established the fact-finding mission in October 2023.
About The Author
