By Matik Kueth
The UN Special Adviser of the Secretary-General for the Prevention of Genocide, Chaloka Beyani, has expressed deep concern over widespread allegations of war crimes in Sudan’s El Fasher last month.
In a statement, Beyani, who plans to meet his African Union counterpart on Friday to discuss a coordinated response, stated that there has been a serious violation of international human rights.
“We see massive violations of international human rights law, direct attacks on civilians, noncompliance with international humanitarian law, which regulates conduct in relation to hostilities, and that the attacks are largely on civilians,” he said.
He is set to issue an advisory to Secretary-General António Guterres, the Security Council, and the wider UN system.
“Once our office sounds the alarm, the alarm rings over and beyond the ordinary violations of human rights or of international humanitarian law,” Beyani explained.
“It indicates that the threshold is about to be crossed, and therefore there has to be early action taken,” he added.
Graphic reports and videos circulating online at the end of last month show apparent war crimes committed by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia as it finally seized control of the Darfuri capital of El Fasher from Government troops, following more than 500 days of siege.
The genocide prevention advisor noted that risk indicators for atrocity crimes are present in Sudan but stressed that only an international court or other legal body can make a determination of genocide.
The UN-backed International Criminal Court (ICC) expressed profound alarm on Monday over the reports of mass killings, rapes, and other crimes emerging from El Fasher.
The ICC noted that its investigation of alleged war crimes committed since the outbreak of the war in April 2023 is ongoing.
The RSF reportedly agreed to a “humanitarian ceasefire” on Thursday, following growing criticism of its fighters’ actions in and around El Fasher.
Leaders of the militia said they would accept the truce terms proposed by a mediation group consisting of the United States, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, according to news reports.
Meanwhile, the UN warns of a worsening humanitarian situation in North Darfur, where thousands of families displaced from El Fasher are living in extremely harsh conditions.
Aid agencies are working with local partners to set up new camps, adding to more than 650,000 people already in Tawila.