Faith Nyasuguta
Sudanese officials have rejected the United Nations’ (UN) proposal to deploy an international force to protect civilians amidst the ongoing conflict, despite the humanitarian aid it promises. A report by the UN’s Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan, released on Friday, revealed that the war in Sudan has led to numerous war crimes and crimes against humanity.
According to France24, Sudan has dismissed the UN’s suggestion to send an “independent and impartial force” to safeguard millions of civilians displaced by over a year of fierce fighting. The conflict, which erupted in April last year, pits the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), commanded by his former deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.
The violence has spread to 14 of Sudan’s 18 states, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths and displacing millions.
The Fact-Finding Mission’s report details a pattern of widespread violations, including deliberate and indiscriminate attacks on civilians, hospitals, schools, communication networks, and critical infrastructure such as water and electricity supplies. Both the SAF and RSF, along with their respective allies, are implicated in these abuses.
“The gravity of these findings underscores the urgent need for immediate action to protect civilians,” said Mohamed Chande Othman, Chair of the Fact-Finding Mission.
“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 protection of the civilian population is paramount, and all parties must comply with their obligations under international law and immediately and unconditionally cease all attacks on the civilian population.”
The report’s conclusions are based on investigations carried out from January to August 2024, which included first-hand accounts from 182 survivors, relatives, and witnesses in countries such as Chad, Kenya, and Uganda. The mission also recommended the establishment of an independent global legal system to support the International Criminal Court (ICC), and called for an immediate halt to the supply of arms, ammunition, and other resources to the warring parties.
Additionally, the report highlighted that the arms embargo imposed on Darfur is being blatantly violated, with foreign weapons continuing to flow into Sudan and surrounding areas, exacerbating the already dire situation.
Despite the UN’s plea for intervention, Sudan remains firm in its refusal, leaving millions of civilians caught in the crossfire of a relentless conflict that shows no signs of abating.
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