UN Investigates Alleged Abuses in Sudan’s Ongoing Conflict
In a crucial decision, the United Nations’ top human rights body voted on Wednesday to establish a fact-finding mission to scrutinize allegations of wrongdoing within Sudan’s ongoing conflict.
Background of the Conflict
Sudan plunged into turmoil in mid-April when longstanding tensions between the military and a formidable paramilitary group ignited a full-scale conflict. This conflict has wreaked havoc in Khartoum and other urban areas, causing extensive damage to civilian infrastructure and further straining the already fragile healthcare system. Many hospitals and medical facilities have had to shut down due to a lack of essential supplies.
UN Resolution and Mission
The resolution, proposed by the U.K., the U.S., and Norway, narrowly passed with 19 out of the council’s 47 members voting in favor of establishing the mission. Sixteen members opposed it, while 12 countries were absent.
The primary mandate of this fact-finding mission is to “examine and establish the facts, circumstances, and root causes of all alleged violations of human rights, instances of abuse, and breaches of international humanitarian law” within Sudan’s ongoing conflict.
Human Cost of the Conflict
More than 9,000 people have lost their lives in the conflict, according to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data project, which monitors the situation in Sudan. Over 4.5 million people have been forced to leave their homes within Sudan, while more than 1.2 million have sought refuge in neighboring countries, as reported by the U.N. migration agency.
Changing Battlegrounds
The initial fighting was concentrated in Khartoum, but it subsequently moved to the western region of Darfur, a region previously marked by a genocidal campaign by Arab militia groups in the early 2000s. The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and allied jajaweed militias have once again targeted ethnic African groups in Darfur, leading to reports of mass killings, rape, and other atrocities, according to rights groups and the U.N.
Ongoing Suffering
“Civilians in Sudan are bearing the brunt of the ongoing devastating conflict,” emphasized Erika Guevara-Rosas, a senior director with Amnesty International, a day before the UN vote. “Parties to the conflict have also committed war crimes, including sexual violence and the targeting of communities based on their ethnic identity.”
In a related development, the International Criminal Court’s prosecutor announced an investigation into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the latest fighting in Darfur in July.