Sudan: ‘A war of atrocities’
5 views
Skip to first unread message
John Ashworth
Sep 6, 2025, 12:20:58 AMSep 6
to Group
1. ‘A war of atrocities’ – UN human rights investigators warn Sudanese
civilians are paying the highest price
5 September 2025 UN News
As the nearly 30-month-long conflict in Sudan between rival militaries
grinds on, looting, burning, and shelling continues to destroy
livelihoods and hope.
“They burned everything,” said one witness of a shelling attack in the
Zamzam displacement camp in war-torn Darfur. “They claimed they only
wanted to fight soldiers, but they punished the whole community.”
The war crimes and human rights violations perpetrated by all parties
to the conflict between the military government and Rapid Support
Forces (RSF) militia are documented in the latest report to the UN
Human Rights Council, published by the UN’s investigative body probing
violations in Sudan, known as the Independent International
Fact-Finding Mission (FFM).
The report, ‘A War of Atrocities” found that both the Sudanese army
(SAF) and the RSF have directed large-scale attacks against civilians
and vital infrastructure including medical centres, constituting
serious violations of international law.
Systematic human rights abuses
“Our findings leave no room for doubt: civilians are paying the
highest price in this war,” said Mohamed Chande Othman, chair of the
FFM.
According to the report, civilians are being targeted by both sides
for their real or perceived affiliation with the opposing side.
Executions, torture, and rape have become a daily horror for many
communities in the war-torn country.
The RSF intentionally directed attacks against non-Arab communities in
the besieged Darfuri city of El Fasher and the surrounding region,
increasing the toll on what the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, calls the
world’s fastest-growing displacement crisis.
Around 12.1 million people have fallen victim to forced displacement
as of July. More civilians were killed or fled after the SAF targeted
the state of Gezira.
Violence against women
Many civilians interviewed for the report said that they had suffered
sexual assault. One witness said that she, along with other women and
underaged girls, was subjected to rape in an abandoned building.
“Victims – especially women and children, who bear the greatest burden
– deserve justice and reparations,” said Joy Ngozi Ezeilo, one of the
independent investigators.
For women and girls in Sudan, receiving psychological or medical
support is nearly impossible both because of the fear of retaliation
from reporting violence and because of regular RSF and SAF attacks on
hospitals.
Risk for humanitarian workers
Over 84 Sudanese humanitarian workers were killed, and more were
arbitrarily detained between the start of war in April 2023 and April
this year after intentional attacks and kidnappings.
The FFM is also conducting an ongoing investigation on a drone attack
against a joint World Food Programme and UNICEF convoy in June. Five
humanitarian workers died in the attack while several others were
injured.
Meanwhile, humanitarian aid continues to be delayed or obstructed.
A ‘roadmap for justice’
“Our report not only exposes atrocities, it also lays out a roadmap
for justice,” said FFM expert Mona Rishmawi.
The warring parties, mediators, and civil society can all play a role
in ending the conflict, as outlined in the report.
Civil society initiatives, such as the Sudanese youth-led initiative
“emergency rooms”, are some of the ways in which local communities can
begin to repair the fabric of basic human rights law across Sudan.
The report also calls on the international community to enforce an
arms embargo, back the International Criminal Court (ICC), and stop
cooperating with any combatants or civilians suspected of war crimes,
among other recommendations.
“The international community has the tools to act. Failure to do so
would not only betray the Sudanese people – it would betray the very
foundations of international law,” said Mr. Othman.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/09/1165784
END1
2. Report of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for
the Sudan "Sudan: A War of Atrocities", 05 September 2025, attached.
Summary
This report documents attacks on civilians and objects essential for
their survival in Sudan. It concludes that both parties to the
conflict violated international human rights and humanitarian law,
with most violations amounting to war crimes. The Rapid Support
Forces’ conduct may also constitute crimes against humanity, including
persecution and extermination. The report calls for accountability and
sets out a roadmap for justice.
https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/hrbodies/hrcouncil/ffm-sudan/a-hrc-60-22-auv.pdf
END2
______________________
John Ashworth
ashwor...@gmail.com
+254 725 926 297 (Kenya mobile, WhatsApp and Signal)
PO Box 403 - 00206, Kiserian, Kenya
civilians are paying the highest price
5 September 2025 UN News
As the nearly 30-month-long conflict in Sudan between rival militaries
grinds on, looting, burning, and shelling continues to destroy
livelihoods and hope.
“They burned everything,” said one witness of a shelling attack in the
Zamzam displacement camp in war-torn Darfur. “They claimed they only
wanted to fight soldiers, but they punished the whole community.”
The war crimes and human rights violations perpetrated by all parties
to the conflict between the military government and Rapid Support
Forces (RSF) militia are documented in the latest report to the UN
Human Rights Council, published by the UN’s investigative body probing
violations in Sudan, known as the Independent International
Fact-Finding Mission (FFM).
The report, ‘A War of Atrocities” found that both the Sudanese army
(SAF) and the RSF have directed large-scale attacks against civilians
and vital infrastructure including medical centres, constituting
serious violations of international law.
Systematic human rights abuses
“Our findings leave no room for doubt: civilians are paying the
highest price in this war,” said Mohamed Chande Othman, chair of the
FFM.
According to the report, civilians are being targeted by both sides
for their real or perceived affiliation with the opposing side.
Executions, torture, and rape have become a daily horror for many
communities in the war-torn country.
The RSF intentionally directed attacks against non-Arab communities in
the besieged Darfuri city of El Fasher and the surrounding region,
increasing the toll on what the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, calls the
world’s fastest-growing displacement crisis.
Around 12.1 million people have fallen victim to forced displacement
as of July. More civilians were killed or fled after the SAF targeted
the state of Gezira.
Violence against women
Many civilians interviewed for the report said that they had suffered
sexual assault. One witness said that she, along with other women and
underaged girls, was subjected to rape in an abandoned building.
“Victims – especially women and children, who bear the greatest burden
– deserve justice and reparations,” said Joy Ngozi Ezeilo, one of the
independent investigators.
For women and girls in Sudan, receiving psychological or medical
support is nearly impossible both because of the fear of retaliation
from reporting violence and because of regular RSF and SAF attacks on
hospitals.
Risk for humanitarian workers
Over 84 Sudanese humanitarian workers were killed, and more were
arbitrarily detained between the start of war in April 2023 and April
this year after intentional attacks and kidnappings.
The FFM is also conducting an ongoing investigation on a drone attack
against a joint World Food Programme and UNICEF convoy in June. Five
humanitarian workers died in the attack while several others were
injured.
Meanwhile, humanitarian aid continues to be delayed or obstructed.
A ‘roadmap for justice’
“Our report not only exposes atrocities, it also lays out a roadmap
for justice,” said FFM expert Mona Rishmawi.
The warring parties, mediators, and civil society can all play a role
in ending the conflict, as outlined in the report.
Civil society initiatives, such as the Sudanese youth-led initiative
“emergency rooms”, are some of the ways in which local communities can
begin to repair the fabric of basic human rights law across Sudan.
The report also calls on the international community to enforce an
arms embargo, back the International Criminal Court (ICC), and stop
cooperating with any combatants or civilians suspected of war crimes,
among other recommendations.
“The international community has the tools to act. Failure to do so
would not only betray the Sudanese people – it would betray the very
foundations of international law,” said Mr. Othman.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/09/1165784
END1
2. Report of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for
the Sudan "Sudan: A War of Atrocities", 05 September 2025, attached.
Summary
This report documents attacks on civilians and objects essential for
their survival in Sudan. It concludes that both parties to the
conflict violated international human rights and humanitarian law,
with most violations amounting to war crimes. The Rapid Support
Forces’ conduct may also constitute crimes against humanity, including
persecution and extermination. The report calls for accountability and
sets out a roadmap for justice.
https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/hrbodies/hrcouncil/ffm-sudan/a-hrc-60-22-auv.pdf
END2
______________________
John Ashworth
ashwor...@gmail.com
+254 725 926 297 (Kenya mobile, WhatsApp and Signal)
PO Box 403 - 00206, Kiserian, Kenya
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages