UN Rights Chief Condemns Civilian Killings in Sudan

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has deplored deadly attacks in Sudan’s Kordofan region this week, his office said in a statement on Thursday.

Since 10 July, the UN human rights office (OHCHR) has verified that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have killed at least 60 civilians in North Kordofan’s Bara locality, while civil society groups have reported that up to 300 were killed.

The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) also hit two villages in West Kordofan from 10 to 14 July, killing at least 23 civilians and injuring more than 30.

Most recently, on Thursday, an SAF airstrike in Bara killed at least 11 civilians, all members of a single family.

According to the High Commissioner’s statement, these deaths come amid worrying reports that the RSF is mobilising for an offensive on El Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan state.

At another major hotspot in the Sudan conflict, the besieged city of El Fasher in North Darfur state, the RSF has conducted multiple attacks recently. These include a ground attack on 11 and 12 July, which reportedly resulted in civilian casualties.

The High Commissioner subsequently “expressed continued concern for the safety of civilians in El Fasher.”

“Callous disregard for civilians’ lives and safety”

The statement stressed that the High Commissioner “deplored the killing of dozens of civilians by both parties.”

“It is distressing that more than two years since the conflict began, parties to the conflict in Sudan continue to demonstrate callous disregard for civilians’ lives and safety,” he said.

“An escalation of hostilities in North Darfur and Kordofan will only further aggravate the already severe risks to civilians and the dire humanitarian situation in a conflict that has already wrought untold suffering on the Sudanese people.”

Mr Türk urged those with influence to prevent further escalation and ensure the parties uphold their obligations under international law, including the protection of civilians.

The High Commissioner renewed his calls for the warring parties to ensure safe and unimpeded access to humanitarian aid and to prevent violations of international law.

“All alleged violations must be fully and independently investigated and those responsible brought to justice,” he concluded.