UN raises concerns over retaliatory attacks of Sudan civilians
The United Nations warned on January 15th of retaliatory violence against civilians in Sudan’s El Gezira state, according to The New Arab and agencies. The UN said the reports raised “grave concerns about flagrant violations” of international law.
The Sudanese army, locked in conflict with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since April 2023, advanced into El Gezira this week and recaptured the state capital, Wad Madani. Rights groups have said that army-aligned militias have carried out ethnic-based attacks on minority groups in the agricultural state, leaving at least 13 people, including two children, dead.
Clementine Nkweta-Salami, the UN’s resident and humanitarian coordinator in Sudan, condemned the attacks, stating: “Reprisals and acts of violence against civilian populations and civilian objects are prohibited by international humanitarian law.”
Local rights groups claim that Kanabi communities were accused of working together with the RSF, which controlled Al-Jazira for more than a year. The Kanabi Congress, which is an advocacy group, attributed the attack to the Sudan Shield Forces, led by Abu Aqla Kaykal.
READ: Sudan: More than 120 killed by shelling near Khartoum
Sudan: People rejoice as army take over from RSF
South Sudan’s foreign ministry, confirmed that several citizens were killed during incidents “following the recapture of Wad Madani.”
The paramilitary RSF are widely known for ethnic violence and there have been recent allegations of genocide from the United States. However, there are growing reports of civilians being ethnically targeted in army-controlled areas as well.
The UN children’s agency, UNICEF, warned on January 15th of “unconscionable violence” facing the youth of Sudan. Edouard Beigbeder, UNICEF’s regional director, noted that since April 2023, “thousands of children have been killed or injured, and sexual violence and child recruitment have been widely reported.”
The conflict has killed tens of thousands, displaced over 12 million, and pushed hundreds of thousands into famine conditions.
The New Arab and agencies
