UN Rights Chief Alarmed at Reported Executions of Civilians in Sudan

Volker Türk says such attacks constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law.

Fri Jan 31 2025
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GENEVA: UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on Friday said he was deeply alarmed by reports of summary executions of civilians allegedly by fighters allied to the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) in Khartoum North and reiterated his call for an immediate end to such attacks.

According to the UN Human Rights Office, at least 18 people, including one woman, were killed in seven separate incidents involving SAF-affiliated fighters and militias since the SAF regained control of the area on January 25. Many of the victims, who were from the Darfur and Kordofan regions, were killed near the Al Jaili oil refinery.

Additionally, alarming reports have emerged from Khartoum North, which the UN Human Rights Office is working to verify. A video circulated on January 30, 2025, shows men in SAF uniforms and members of the Al Baraa Bin Malik Brigade reading a list of alleged RSF collaborators.

“These reports of summary executions, following similar incidents earlier this month in Al Jazirah State, are deeply disturbing. Such killings must not become normalised. Deliberately taking the life of a civilian or anyone not or no longer directly taking part in hostilities is a war crime,” said Türk in a statement.

“I once again call on all parties to the conflict to take urgent action to protect civilians and to uphold obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law. Independent investigations must be held into these incidents in line with relevant international standards.”

More than 12 million displaced

The war between Sudan’s army (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since April 2023 has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced more than 12 million, according to the United Nations, and pushed millions to the brink of famine.

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UN Human Rights Office said attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) also continue unabated. It said in El Fasher, in North Darfur, the Abu Shouk camp for internally displaced people once again came under shelling. Nine civilians, among them two women and a boy, were killed and at least 12 others injured when the camp was shelled on 29 January.

“Deliberate attacks on civilians and civilian objects are abhorrent. They must end immediately and so must incitement to violence against civilians,” said Türk. “Such attacks constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law and may constitute war crimes,” he said.

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