Sudan is once again in the news, but unfortunately not for the right reasons. A recent statement from the US State Department revealed that war crimes and crimes against humanity have been committed in the country. The two main sides involved, the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, are both accused of these atrocities, although in different proportions.
The report delivered by Antony Blinken, US Secretary of State, describes in detail the violence and destruction that has ravaged Sudan. Killings of prisoners have been carried out in detention sites on both sides, without distinction. However, the Rapid Support Forces, led by General Hemedti, have been accused of waging a campaign of terror against women and girls, using sexual violence as a means of domination. These heinous acts include attacks in homes, kidnappings in the streets and attacks on those trying to flee.
In addition, survivors of the genocide in Darfur, which dates back around 20 years, have also been victims of targeted violence. The report therefore concludes that both sides, the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, are guilty of war crimes. However, the Rapid Support Forces are also accused of crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing.
This statement from the United States gives new urgency and momentum to the efforts of the African and international community to end the violence in Sudan. Since April, clashes between troops loyal to army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the paramilitaries of the Rapid Support Forces, led by Mohamed Hamdane Daglo, have left more than 10,000 dead according to a conservative estimate. .
Additionally, more than 6.3 million people have been forcibly displaced, according to the United Nations. The situation in Sudan has therefore become extremely worrying, and it is urgent that concrete measures be taken to put an end to this violence and provide justice to the victims.
In conclusion, war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Sudan are an appalling reality. Both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces are responsible for these atrocities, but the Rapid Support Forces appear to be the perpetrators of the most horrific acts, such as sexual violence against women and girls. It is imperative that the international community act quickly to end this violence and bring those responsible to justice. Sudan needs peace and stability to rebuild itself and offer a better future to its people.