UN Experts Call for Independent Force to Protect Civilians in Sudan War

UN-backed human rights investigators have called for the establishment of an "independent and impartial force" to protect civilians in Sudan's ongoing conflict. This recommendation comes as part of their first report since the team's creation by the UN Human Rights Council in October 2023.

The investigators have accused both warring parties - the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) - of committing war crimes. These include murder, mutilation, and torture. The RSF and its allies have also been charged with crimes against humanity, such as rape, sexual slavery, and persecution based on ethnic or gender grounds.

Mohamed Chande Othman, the chair of the fact-finding team, emphasized the urgent need to end the fighting to alleviate the suffering of the Sudanese people. The conflict, which erupted in April 2023, has had devastating consequences for the civilian population.

According to recent data, over 10 million people have been displaced from their homes, with more than 2 million seeking refuge in neighboring countries. The humanitarian crisis has reached alarming levels, with famine breaking out in a large camp for displaced people in Darfur.

The investigators have recommended expanding the arms embargo, currently in place for the Darfur region, to cover the entire country. They have also warned that foreign governments supplying arms and financing to the warring parties could be complicit in these crimes.

"The fact-finding mission considers that fighting will stop once the arms flow stops."

The team's findings are based on testimonies from over 180 survivors, relatives, and witnesses to the conflict, collected during visits to three neighboring countries. Their investigation focused on the period from January to August 2024.

It's worth noting that Sudan, the largest country in Africa by land area, has a complex history of conflicts. The current crisis has its roots in the 2019 Sudanese Revolution, and the country has experienced multiple military coups since gaining independence in 1956. The International Criminal Court has been investigating war crimes in Darfur since 2005, highlighting the long-standing nature of the region's instability.

The humanitarian situation remains dire, with aid groups struggling to access those in need. In December 2023, the UN Security Council voted to end the organization's political mission in the country under pressure from the military leadership.

Recent talks in Geneva, convened by the United States, Switzerland, and Saudi Arabia, have made some progress in facilitating aid delivery to Sudan. However, the absence of Sudan's armed forces from these discussions has been noted as a significant concern.

While the fact-finding team's report serves to spotlight human rights abuses and inform International Criminal Court prosecutors, its immediate impact on the ground may be limited. Nevertheless, it underscores the urgent need for international action to address what the UN has described as the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

The conflict has not only caused immense human suffering but also disrupted Sudan's economy, which heavily relies on agriculture and oil production. With over 500 ethnic groups and more than 100 languages spoken in the country, the ongoing war threatens Sudan's rich cultural diversity and potential for development.

As the international community grapples with this crisis, the call for an independent protective force and stricter arms control measures highlights the complex challenges in bringing peace and stability to Sudan.