Sudanese military forces allegedly perpetrated war crimes, leading to the impediment of humanitarian assistance efforts.
In a shocking development, six African and international non-governmental organizations and four Sudanese and international alliances have submitted charges against Sudan's army to the United Nations Human Rights Council. The allegations, presented in Geneva, Switzerland in 2023, accuse the Sudanese army of war crimes, including the use of toxic gas bombs, incendiary devices, and cluster munitions, causing cases of suffocation and poisoning.
The groups include the International African Culture Organisation, Victorious Youth Movement, One Child One Bag Association in Burkina Faso, African Unity Association, African Coordination for Human Rights of Armies, and Zero Poverty in Africa. They are backed by four alliances: the New Sudan Organisations Union, the Sudanese Human Rights Organisations Alliance, the Future Youth Alliance, and the Euro-Mediterranean Alliance Against Impunity.
The charges also allege indiscriminate shelling, the destruction of hospitals, schools, and UN facilities, including UNICEF offices and World Food Programme warehouses. The attacks are said to have killed staff and disrupted humanitarian operations.
Residential areas and camps were bombed, followed by executions, torture, and sexual violence in Darfur, Kordofan, and Omdurman. Facilities operated by the Red Cross, the Sudanese Red Crescent, Doctors Without Borders, UNICEF, and the World Food Programme have been attacked. The groups reported cases of sexual slavery, forced marriage, and child recruitment, as well as the destruction or military occupation of hundreds of schools.
The allegations include the use of banned chemical weapons in attacks in Nyala, El Fasher, and Zalingei. The Fur, Zaghawa, and Masalit communities in Darfur were targeted through mass executions and public dumping of bodies. Arbitrary arrests, disappearances, and harassment of activists, journalists, and lawyers are widespread.
Officials have previously denied targeting civilians and rejected similar claims as fabricated. However, the groups urged the council to establish an independent international investigative mechanism, refer the situation to the International Criminal Court, impose sanctions on leaders they hold responsible, secure safe humanitarian corridors, protect civilians, support transitional justice, and end attacks on essential facilities.
In a strong statement, the groups told the council that 'Silence is tantamount to complicity in crimes.' The Sudanese army has not responded to the latest allegations. The conflict has displaced over 10 million people, mostly women and children, with aid blockages leaving communities facing famine. The groups' urgent call for action highlights the critical need for international intervention to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Sudan.
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