United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has raised alarms about the worsening impact of the ongoing conflict in Sudan, highlighting an increase in ethnically targeted attacks and civilian casualties.
In a statement released on Friday, Türk described the situation as an “even more dangerous turn for civilians,” with reports of mass killings and displacement in Al Jazirah state in southeastern Sudan. He emphasized that the violence stems from the continued power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which began in April 2023.
“This senseless war is marked by direct and ethnically motivated attacks on civilians, further intensifying their desperation,” Türk stated, noting evidence of war crimes and atrocities.
Over the past week, the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) documented two major attacks in Al Jazirah, resulting in 21 confirmed deaths, although the actual toll is believed to be higher.
On Jan. 10, eight civilians were killed at Taiba Camp, with 13 women and one man abducted. Homes were destroyed, and livestock, crops, and property were looted, forcing many families to flee. The following day, 13 civilians, including two children, were killed in an assault on Khamsa Camp.
The attacks coincided with the SAF’s recapture of Wad Madani and were reportedly carried out by the Sudan Shield Forces, led by former RSF commander Abu Aqla Keikal. The violence targeted the Kanabi community, a historically marginalized group comprising Nuba and other African tribes.
Türk condemned the rise in retaliatory attacks based on ethnic identity and the spread of hate speech. He revealed that OHCHR had received videos documenting extrajudicial killings and the use of dehumanizing language against victims, including terms like “dirt” and “bastards.”
The violence has also intensified in North Darfur, where RSF forces and allied Arab militias have targeted African ethnic groups, including the Zaghawa and Fur.
In a separate incident on Jan. 13, drone strikes reportedly launched by the SAF killed 120 civilians and injured more than 150 others in Omdurman. The attacks targeted a market in an RSF-controlled area, adding to the already dire humanitarian crisis.
Türk urged both warring factions to uphold international humanitarian and human rights laws, warning that militia mobilization along ethnic lines could lead to a broader civil war. He called for independent investigations into all violations and emphasized the need for measures to protect civilians.
“The SAF and RSF must ensure accountability for their fighters and prioritize civilian safety,” he said.
As Sudan’s conflict deepens, the international community faces growing pressure to intervene and support efforts to end the violence.
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