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La CRISIS in Sudan has been described by the UN as a 'grave emergency for human rights and the protection of civilians'. An alarming picture, don't you think? The UN International Verification Mission has sounded the alarm, warning that both sides involved in the country's civil war are intensifying the use of heavy weaponry in densely populated areas, taking advantage of an already dramatic humanitarian situation.
By now, civilian life is devastated and the situation continues to evolve in a worrying way.
The current situation and official statements
“Let's be clear: the conflict in Sudan is far from being resolved,” he said firmly. Mohamed Chande Othman, Chair of the Verification Mission, during his presentation to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. “The scale of human suffering continues to increase. The fragmentation of governance, the militarization of society and the intervention of foreign actors are fueling an increasingly deadly crisis.”
The conflict, which broke out in April 2023, has already caused the deaths of tens of thousands of civilians and forced over 13 million people to flee their homes. The United Nations has not hesitated to define Sudan as the country with the 'worst humanitarian crisis' globally. But how can one live with such horror?
Violations and use of weapons
The mission documented an alarming increase in the use of heavy weapons in densely populated areas. For example, last May, an airstrike conducted by RSF drones hit an international hospital in Obeid, killing six unarmed civilians. Just a few days ago, a Sudanese army bombing in Al Koma resulted in at least 15 civilian casualties. That’s unacceptable, isn’t it?
In addition, humanitarian aid has been instrumentalized by the Sudanese military, which imposes bureaucratic restrictions, while the RSF has looted convoys and blocked assistance. Another disturbing aspect is the increase in sexual and gender-based violence, with incidents of gang rape, kidnapping and sexual slavery, mainly in RSF-controlled camps for displaced people. How can we stand by and watch?
The Roots of the Conflict and Future Prospects
What began as a political and security crisis has transformed into “a serious human rights and protection emergency,” he said. Mona Rishmawi, member of the Verification Mission. It is unacceptable that this devastating war enters its third year with no signs of resolution. But how did we get to this point?
Sudan has experienced increasing instability since the removal of its long-serving president Omar al-Bashir in 2019, after months of anti-government protests. In October 2021, a military coup overthrew the civilian government of Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok, forcing him to resign in early 2022. Since then, power has been shared between the head of the Sudanese army, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the rival Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo of the RSF, but since April 2023 they have started fighting for control of the state and its resources.
Recently, the Sudanese army accused the forces of the eastern Libyan military commander, Khalifa Haftar, attacking border posts, marking the first time Sudan has accused its northwestern neighbor of direct involvement in the civil war. In this context, Egypt, which has supported Haftar, has historically supported the Sudanese army. In addition, the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has accused the United Arab Emirates of supporting the RSF, a charge the latter denies. What will be the future for Sudan and its citizens?