A UN report has revealed grave human rights violations in Sudan’s civil war, including arbitrary detentions and torture by both SAF and RSF. It highlights the plight of women and child detainees, ethnic discrimination, and the issue of enforced disappearances. The report calls for significant reforms and the involvement of the international community to address these urgent concerns.
A recent UN report on Sudan’s civil conflict highlights widespread human rights violations perpetrated by both the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The report details arbitrary detentions, torture, and ill-treatment of detainees in Khartoum State, revealing the dire conditions faced by tens of thousands, including women and children, who have been held without charge since the fighting began almost two years ago.
The findings are based on testimonies from 34 former detainees and witnesses covering the period from April 2023 to June 2024. Reports indicate severe overcrowding in detention facilities, inadequate food, water, and medical care, often resulting in detainee deaths due to neglect. The UN’s high commissioner for human rights, Volker Turk, emphasized the critical nature of these abuses.
The report also draws attention to child detainees, noting that minors as young as 13 are held in adult facilities, even serving as guards in RSF centers, raising serious concerns over the exploitation of youth. Additionally, sexual violence against women was reported in RSF-run detention centers.
Ethnic discrimination is prominent, with detainees from the Darfur and Kordofan regions—especially those from African tribes—facing disproportionate mistreatment. Both SAF and RSF have reportedly targeted individuals based on perceived opposition affiliation, which includes ethnic profiling in their detention practices.
Concerns about enforced disappearances are significant, as families cannot ascertain the whereabouts of detained relatives. Notably, a family received threats from RSF personnel for inquiring about a detained member, who was later confirmed dead.
While the report focuses on Khartoum State, it mentions similar violations in other areas like Darfur and Al-Jazirah State. The UN has noted detainee transfers from Khartoum to South Darfur, which may amplify human rights abuses.
Turk called for immediate reforms to address these profound violations, stressing that arbitrary detentions and torture undermine the rule of law. The UN urges for an end to these practices, improved detention conditions, and enhanced access to justice for detainees. Moreover, it advocates for international engagement with Sudanese authorities and armed groups to address these crises, amidst an ongoing humanitarian emergency in the region.
The UN report critically addresses disturbing human rights abuses in Sudan, including arbitrary detentions, torture, and ethnic discrimination affecting numerous detainees. Highlighting the plight of child detainees and sexual violence cases, it calls for urgent reforms and international intervention. The findings underline both the immediate need for improved conditions in detention facilities and ongoing efforts to resolve the humanitarian crisis as the conflict persists.
Original Source: www.arabnews.com
