Sudan: A new report by Amnesty International has stated that Sudan has witnessed extensive war crimes during the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.
The report documented attacks by both the General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan-led Sudanese army and Mr. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo’s RSF.
The conflict has resulted in the killing of thousands of people since the civil war broke out in April. The four-month conflict has also displaced at least 3.3 million others from their homes.
“Civilians throughout Sudan are suffering unimaginable horror every single day as the RSF and Sudanese Army recklessly vie for control of territory,” Mr. Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary-General, remarked.
“The RSF and SAF, as well as their affiliated armed groups, must end their targeting of civilians and guarantee safe passage for those seeking safety. Urgent steps must be taken to ensure justice and reparations for victims and survivors,” the statement added.
The report, titled ‘Death Came To Our Home: War Crimes and Civilian Suffering In Sudan,’ also stated sexual violence against women and girls, deliberate attacks on civilian installations such as hospitals and churches, and widespread looting.
According to Mr. Callamard, the report, which drew upon interviews with 181 Sudanese refugees, mostly in Chad, concentrates mainly on the capital Khartoum and the West Darfur region, where death and destruction have raised the “spectre of the scorched earth campaign of previous decades.”
The organisation has further called on the international community to increase humanitarian support for Sudan and for neighbouring countries to ensure their borders are open to refugees seeking safety.
“The international community must also immediately extend the existing arms embargo to all of Sudan and ensure its enforcement. Countries with significant leverage over the warring parties must use their influence to end the violations,” Amnesty noted.
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