Urgent Call for Action Against RSF Violence in Sudan’s Al Gezira State
The Rapid Support Forces in Sudan’s Al Gezira state have escalated violent attacks against civilians, resulting in multiple deaths, injuries, and cases of sexual violence. Human Rights Watch calls for urgent international intervention as over 130,000 people have been displaced since the assaults intensified. The United Kingdom is urged to leverage its position in the UN Security Council to advocate for a civilian protection mission, emphasizing the necessity for global action to safeguard vulnerable populations.
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have reportedly perpetrated numerous assaults against civilians in Sudan’s Al Gezira state, resulting in numerous fatalities, injuries, and unlawful detentions, alongside incidents of sexual violence against women and girls. Human Rights Watch asserts that these actions, in the wake of a significant uptick in RSF violence since a leadership defection, necessitate urgent international intervention. The United Kingdom, holding the presidency of the UN Security Council for November, is called upon to advocate for a mission aimed at safeguarding civilians amid these escalating hostilities. Since the defection of Abu Agla Keikel, an allied commander, the RSF has launched attacks on at least 30 locations, displacing over 130,000 individuals. Witness testimonies reveal harrowing details of violence, with reports including arbitrary shootings and intimidation of locals suspected of ties to Keikel. The Sudanese Protection Cluster noted that recent clashes led to approximately 300 civilian deaths, emphasizing the dire humanitarian crisis exacerbated by RSF aggression and continued government restrictions on aid access. The situation has worsened under the RSF’s control in key areas, notably Wad Madani, where they have inflicted severe human rights abuses. Human Rights Watch confirms at least 25 documented instances of sexual violence perpetrated by RSF personnel against women and children since late October, with additional fatalities linked to these violent acts. Local communities are facing a dual crisis of violent conflict and extensive looting, further compounding their suffering. Human Rights Watch urges the UN Security Council to take decisive action, highlighting the ineffectiveness of previous measures. The organization emphasizes that in light of the escalating violence, the international community cannot afford to remain passive. Calls for enhanced support for the UN’s Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan complement the demands for immediate protective measures for civilians.
The ongoing conflict in Sudan has seen a troubling increase in violence perpetrated by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) against unarmed civilians. Recently, following the defection of a prominent RSF ally, attacks have intensified in Al Gezira state, involving widespread killings, arbitrary detentions, and acts of sexual violence. Human Rights Watch and other organizations have called for a concerted response from international bodies, particularly the United Nations, to address the escalating humanitarian crisis brought on by these assaults. The international community, particularly the United Kingdom as the current penholder for Sudan at the UN Security Council, is urged to prioritize the protection of civilians in its discussions and actions.
The ongoing violence in Al Gezira state, perpetrated by the Rapid Support Forces against civilians, highlights an urgent humanitarian crisis requiring immediate intervention from the international community. With over 130,000 displaced individuals and increased cases of severe human rights abuses, it is essential for the United Kingdom, as president of the UN Security Council, to advocate for protective measures to support vulnerable populations in Sudan. Failure to act could result in exacerbating the already critical situation faced by civilians caught in this conflict.
Original Source: www.hrw.org
