Paramilitary Rapid Support Forces fighters in the East Nile district of greater Khartoum. AFP
Paramilitary Rapid Support Forces fighters in the East Nile district of greater Khartoum. AFP
Paramilitary Rapid Support Forces fighters in the East Nile district of greater Khartoum. AFP
Paramilitary Rapid Support Forces fighters in the East Nile district of greater Khartoum. AFP

World

Sudan's warring sides committing horrific abuses, UN report says

Both Sudanese military and Rapid Support Forces recruiting child soldiers

Adla Massoud
Adla Massoud
United Nations

February 23, 2024

  • English
  • Arabic

The UN's top human rights body on Friday condemned the “horrific violations and abuses” committed by the Sudanese military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces during the ongoing civil war.

A new UN report – based on interviews with 303 victims and witnesses and contains videos, photographs and satellite imagery – stated that the army and RSF have “used explosive weapons with wide area effects, such as missiles fired from fighter jets, unmanned aerial vehicles, anti-aircraft weapons and artillery shells in densely populated areas”.

The report also accused the RSF of using human shields.

It described incidents in the capital Khartoum in which dozens of people were arrested and held outside near RSF military posts to deter air strikes by Sudanese fighter jets.

“For nearly a year now, accounts coming out of Sudan have been of death, suffering and despair, as the senseless conflict and human rights violations and abuses have persisted with no end in sight,” UN human rights chief Volker Turk said in a statement after the release of the report.

“Some of these violations would amount to war crimes.

“The guns must be silenced and civilians must be protected.”

The report also found that at least 118 people had been subjected to sexual violence, with many of the assaults committed by members of the paramilitary forces.

Sudanese army soldiers, loyal to army chief Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan, pose for a picture at the Rapid Support Forces base in the Red Sea city of Port Sudan on April 16. AFP
Sudanese army soldiers, loyal to army chief Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan, pose for a picture at the Rapid Support Forces base in the Red Sea city of Port Sudan on April 16. AFP
Smoke billows above residential buildings in Khartoum on April 16 as fighting in Sudan raged for a second day in battles between rival generals. AFP
Smoke billows above residential buildings in Khartoum on April 16 as fighting in Sudan raged for a second day in battles between rival generals. AFP
Sudanese greet army soldiers in Port Sudan on April 16. AFP
Sudanese greet army soldiers in Port Sudan on April 16. AFP
Destroyed planes at Khartoum International Airport on April 17. Reuters
Destroyed planes at Khartoum International Airport on April 17. Reuters
People flee Khartoum during clashes between the paramilitary RSF and the army on April 19. Reuters
People flee Khartoum during clashes between the paramilitary RSF and the army on April 19. Reuters
A column of smoke rises behind buildings near the airport area in Khartoum on April 19 following the collapse of a 24-hour truce. AFP
A column of smoke rises behind buildings near the airport area in Khartoum on April 19 following the collapse of a 24-hour truce. AFP
People flee their neighbourhoods amid fighting between the army and RSF in Khartoum on April 19. AFP
People flee their neighbourhoods amid fighting between the army and RSF in Khartoum on April 19. AFP
Black smoke covers the sky above Khartoum on April 19. AFP
Black smoke covers the sky above Khartoum on April 19. AFP
Residential buildings damaged in fighting in Khartoum on April 20. AP
Residential buildings damaged in fighting in Khartoum on April 20. AP
Sudanese army soldiers sit on top of a tank in the Red Sea city of Port Sudan on April 20. AFP
Sudanese army soldiers sit on top of a tank in the Red Sea city of Port Sudan on April 20. AFP
People carry Othman Mohamed, a senior general loyal to Gen Al Burhan, on their shoulders in Port Sudan on April 20. AFP
People carry Othman Mohamed, a senior general loyal to Gen Al Burhan, on their shoulders in Port Sudan on April 20. AFP
A Sudanese evacuee is embraced after disembarking from a Spanish Air and Space Force plane at Torrejon de Ardoz Airbase, Spain, on April 24. Reuters
A Sudanese evacuee is embraced after disembarking from a Spanish Air and Space Force plane at Torrejon de Ardoz Airbase, Spain, on April 24. Reuters
People gather as they flee clashes between the RSF and the army in Khartoum on April 24. Reuters
People gather as they flee clashes between the RSF and the army in Khartoum on April 24. Reuters
A member of the Saudi Royal Navy carries a child who was evacuated from Sudan, in Jeddah on April 24. Photo: SPA
A member of the Saudi Royal Navy carries a child who was evacuated from Sudan, in Jeddah on April 24. Photo: SPA
Greek citizens arrive in Greece from Sudan on board a military plane on April 25. AFP
Greek citizens arrive in Greece from Sudan on board a military plane on April 25. AFP
Ali Mazloum, a Lebanese citizen who was evacuated from Sudan, is welcomed upon his arrival at Beirut airport on April 25. Reuters
Ali Mazloum, a Lebanese citizen who was evacuated from Sudan, is welcomed upon his arrival at Beirut airport on April 25. Reuters
Palestinian evacuees from Sudan arrive at Rafah crossing, between Egypt and the Gaza Strip on April 28. EPA
Palestinian evacuees from Sudan arrive at Rafah crossing, between Egypt and the Gaza Strip on April 28. EPA
Black smoke rises over Khartoum on April 28. AFP
Black smoke rises over Khartoum on April 28. AFP
A woman and child evacuated from Sudan arrive in Abu Dhabi on April 29. Reuters
A woman and child evacuated from Sudan arrive in Abu Dhabi on April 29. Reuters
Activists demonstrate in front of the White House in Washington, calling on the US to intervene to stop the fighting in Sudan on April 29. AFP
Activists demonstrate in front of the White House in Washington, calling on the US to intervene to stop the fighting in Sudan on April 29. AFP
Children fleeing Sudan arrive at Wadi Karkar bus station in Aswan, southern Egypt, on April 30. EPA
Children fleeing Sudan arrive at Wadi Karkar bus station in Aswan, southern Egypt, on April 30. EPA
Clouds of black smoke billow over Khartoum as fighting continues on May 1. Reuters
Clouds of black smoke billow over Khartoum as fighting continues on May 1. Reuters
A Sudanese refugee who crossed into Chad cooks a meal in a makeshift shelter at a camp in Koufroun, near Echbara, on May 1. AFP
A Sudanese refugee who crossed into Chad cooks a meal in a makeshift shelter at a camp in Koufroun, near Echbara, on May 1. AFP
People board a Russian military aircraft during an evacuation operation at Khartoum airport on May 2. EPA
People board a Russian military aircraft during an evacuation operation at Khartoum airport on May 2. EPA
A boy holds bullet cartridges as clashes between the RSF and the army continue in Khartoum on May 13. Reuters
A boy holds bullet cartridges as clashes between the RSF and the army continue in Khartoum on May 13. Reuters
A Sudanese girl who fled the conflict in Sudan's Darfur region carries a pot on her way to collect water near the border between Sudan and Chad on May 12. Reuters
A Sudanese girl who fled the conflict in Sudan's Darfur region carries a pot on her way to collect water near the border between Sudan and Chad on May 12. Reuters
Members of staff offload aid supplies provided by the World Health Organisation and UAE Aid from a plane that arrived from the Emirates at Port Sudan on May 5. AFP
Members of staff offload aid supplies provided by the World Health Organisation and UAE Aid from a plane that arrived from the Emirates at Port Sudan on May 5. AFP
The UAE sent three aid planes to support the Sudanese people on May 8. Photo: Wam
The UAE sent three aid planes to support the Sudanese people on May 8. Photo: Wam
RSF fighters gather near the presidential palace in Khartoum on May 1. AFP
RSF fighters gather near the presidential palace in Khartoum on May 1. AFP
A man inspects the damage as he walks near a destroyed building and car in the Azhari district of Khartoum on June 6. AFP
A man inspects the damage as he walks near a destroyed building and car in the Azhari district of Khartoum on June 6. AFP
Wounded Sudanese refugees who fled conflict in West Darfur receive medical support from Doctors Without Borders and health ministry staff at a hospital in Adre, Chad, on June 16. Reuters
Wounded Sudanese refugees who fled conflict in West Darfur receive medical support from Doctors Without Borders and health ministry staff at a hospital in Adre, Chad, on June 16. Reuters
Evacuees from Sudan arrive at Baghdad International Airport on June 18. AFP
Evacuees from Sudan arrive at Baghdad International Airport on June 18. AFP
Suad Fissa, 40, an asylum seeker and factory worker from Darfur, cries as she speaks about her missing children in Tel Aviv, Israel, on June 24. Reuters
Suad Fissa, 40, an asylum seeker and factory worker from Darfur, cries as she speaks about her missing children in Tel Aviv, Israel, on June 24. Reuters

One woman, the UN said, “was held in a building and repeatedly gang raped over a period of 35 days”.

Both sides have also recruited child soldiers, the report added.

Mr Turk called for “prompt, thorough, effective, transparent, independent and impartial investigations” and for those responsible to be brought to justice.

Last month, International Criminal Court chief prosecutor Karim Khan told the UN Security Council that there is evidence that Rome Statute crimes – which include genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes – are being committed in Sudan.

The civil war in Sudan broke out on April 15 last year over disputes about the blueprint for a political transition and the integration of the RSF into the military after the removal of former leader Omar Al Bashir.

The conflict has persisted despite numerous international attempts to broker a ceasefire.

Fighting has killed thousands and displaced nearly eight million people, according to the UN.

Sudan's army chief says war crimes are being committed in country – video

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Studying addiction

This month, Dubai Medical College launched the Middle East’s first master's programme in addiction science.

Together with the Erada Centre for Treatment and Rehabilitation, the college offers a two-year master’s course as well as a one-year diploma in the same subject.

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Started: April 2017

Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh

Based: Cairo, Egypt

Sector: transport

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THE BIO

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Role Model: Sheikh Zayed, God bless his soul

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Three ways to limit your social media use

Clinical psychologist, Dr Saliha Afridi at The Lighthouse Arabia suggests three easy things you can do every day to cut back on the time you spend online.

1. Put the social media app in a folder on the second or third screen of your phone so it has to remain a conscious decision to open, rather than something your fingers gravitate towards without consideration.

2. Schedule a time to use social media instead of consistently throughout the day. I recommend setting aside certain times of the day or week when you upload pictures or share information. 

3. Take a mental snapshot rather than a photo on your phone. Instead of sharing it with your social world, try to absorb the moment, connect with your feeling, experience the moment with all five of your senses. You will have a memory of that moment more vividly and for far longer than if you take a picture of it.

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White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogenChromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxideUltramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica contentOphiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on landOlivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour

Updated: February 23, 2024, 3:40 PM
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