Geneva, December 5 (Darfur24)
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has warned of a potential new wave of atrocities in Sudan as intense fighting spreads across the Kordofan region between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), Rapid Support Forces (RSF), and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N).
In a statement on Thursday, Türk said that when the RSF captured Bara city in North Kordofan in October, the UN Human Rights Office had documented at least 269 civilian deaths caused by aerial strikes, artillery shelling, and summary executions.
Telecommunications and internet outages have hindered reporting, and the actual number of casualties is believed to be much higher. Reports also indicate retaliatory killings, arbitrary detentions, abductions, sexual violence, and forced recruitment, including of children.
“Many civilians have reportedly been detained for allegedly ‘collaborating’ with opposing parties,” Türk said, highlighting the increasing use of divisive speech that risks further fueling the violence.
“It is shocking to see history repeating itself in Kordofan so soon after the horrific events in El Fasher,” Türk added. “The international community must not allow Kordofan to suffer the same fate.”
Recent attacks have worsened the crisis. On 3 November, an RSF drone struck a mourning tent in El Obeid, North Kordofan, reportedly killing 45 people, mostly women. On 29 November, an SAF airstrike in Kauda, South Kordofan, killed at least 48 civilians. Fighting continues across the three Kordofan states, resulting in additional civilian casualties.
Kadugli and Dilling in South Kordofan, besieged by RSF and SPLM-N forces, and El Obeid in North Kordofan, partially surrounded by the RSF, are particularly at risk. The humanitarian situation is dire, with famine confirmed in Kadugli and famine risks in Dilling. All parties continue to block humanitarian access.
“This fighting must end immediately, and life-saving aid must reach those facing starvation,” Türk said. He called for the protection of humanitarian personnel and local responders, and urged the restoration of telecommunications to facilitate the delivery of aid and the flow of essential information.
The conflict has also displaced more than 45,000 civilians within and beyond the Kordofan region. “Safe passage for those fleeing famine, death, and destruction is a human rights imperative,” Türk stressed.
He urged all States with influence over the warring parties to act immediately to halt the fighting and prevent further arms flows. “We cannot stand by while more Sudanese fall victim to horrific human rights violations. This war must stop now.”