The United Nations Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan chaired by Mohamed Chande Othman of Tanzania said in its first Report of 6 September 2024 that Sudan's warring parties as well as their respective militia allies have committed an appalling range of violation of human rights and international humanitarian laws including indiscriminate air strikes and shelling against civilians, schools and vital water services. The warring parties have targeted civilians through rape, sexual slavery, arbitrary arrest, torture and ill treatment.
The current armed conflict began on 15 April 2023. One one side is the Sudanese Army led by General Abdel Fattah Al-Burkan. The rival opposition is the Rapid Support Forces led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, better known by his battle name Hemedti. The fighting has killed and wounded tens of thousands of civilians, displaced nearly 8 million people and forced 2 million to flee to neighboring countries and beyond.
The Sudanese Army has recently launched a push to retake parts of Khartoum now under the control of the Rapid Support Forces. Fighting has also intensified in the Darfur region where the United Nations has warned of a worsening humanitarian crisis. The fighting makes it nearly impossible for humanitarian agencies to deliver food and other vital supplies.
There is an urgent need to undertake efforts for a reduction of violence. The Fact-Finding Mission stated that "Given the failure of the warring parties to spare civilians, it is imperative that an independent and impartial force with a mandate to safeguard civilians be deployed without delay." The deployment of such a force depends on the United Nations Security Council which, as yet, has taken no action. Other efforts to start negotiations on conflict reduction have not been able to involve both antagonists. New peace efforts are needed.
René Wadlow, Association of World Citizens
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