DARFUR Union in the UK:- The Importance of Documenting Atrocities and War Crimes Using the Written

08:08 PM September, 03 2023

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DARFUR Union in the UK:- The Importance of Documenting Atrocities and War Crimes Using the Written Word: The Case of Darfur and the RSF

*Written and visual documentation can help to refute the false narratives spread by the warring factions and their political allies, who are trying to change the narrative and whitewash the war crimes in Darfur. This includes the actions of the Rapid Support Forces and their political wing, which are being bribed with money. It also includes the killings that occur due to the mutual shelling between the two warring factions in Nyala*

*The exclusive interview with the Chairman of the Darfur Association in Norway provided a lot of information about the importance of on-the-ground documentation and highlights of the reality of the suffering of the refugees in Adré, Eastern Chad, and the hellish journey from Elgeneina*

*The latest developments on the ground in both South and West Darfur; Sudan is first in Africa in terms of the number of forcibly displaced people*

The Darfur genocide is one of the most horrific crimes against humanity in recent history as will as the longest ongoing one. The Sudanese government by in 2023, aided by the Janjaweed militia, has been responsible for the deaths of an estimated 500,000 people and the displacement of millions more, all of which was lead to the indictments of the then sitting president of Sudan Omar al-Bashir by the international Criminal Court, ICC for counts of Genocide war crimes and crimes against the humanity (ref. 1).
In the midst of this violence, it is more important than ever to document atrocities and war crimes using all the means that are available such as audio, video and as importantly, the written word. This documentation serves several important purposes.

First, it provides a record of what happened in Darfur. This record can be used to hold perpetrators accountable for their crimes, to provide justice for the victims, and to prevent future atrocities from happening.
Second, documentation can help to raise awareness of the Darfur crisis. This awareness can then be used to pressure governments and international organisations to take action to stop the violence and to help the victims.
Third, documentation can help to preserve the memories of the victims. This is important because the victims of war crimes often have difficulty speaking about their experiences. Documentation can help to give them a voice and to ensure that their stories are not forgotten.
The RSF (Rapid Support Forces) is one of the militias that has been involved in the Darfur genocide and war crimes. The RSF has been accused of committing numerous atrocities, including murder, rape (ref. 2 and 3), torture, and looting.

It is a must to hold the leaders of RSF accountable for all the crimes against humanity and war crimes they have committed against the civilians of Darfur, in particular in Elgeneina and Mistri (ref. 4), Sirba (ref. 5), Murnei (ref. 6); also in other parts of the region such Kutum (ref. 7), Zallengei (ref. 8) and previous Nyala (ref. 9), all of which were covered in the Union’s periodically issued reports, with the latest report covering the use of rape by RSF and their allied Janjaweed militia as a weapon against the women and girls of West Darfur (ref. 10), as well as the political cover given to this notorious militia by the political groups for impunity. In addition to the latest assassinations of civilians in Nyala by RSF on the basis of ethnicity.

It is important to document the crimes of the RSF in order to hold them accountable for their actions. This documentation can also be used to raise awareness of the RSF's abuses and crimes in Darfur across the region.

There are a number of ways to document atrocities and war crimes using the written word. One way is to write eyewitness accounts of what happened. Another way is to collect and preserve documents, such as photographs, videos, and reports. It is also important to interview victims and witnesses to document their experiences. Mohammed Haggar, chairman of the DARFUR Association in Norway, recently visited Adré in Chad to deliver humanitarian aid to Sudanese refugees. He also recorded video testimonies of refugees, children, and women, many of whom told harrowing stories of systematic targeting by the Janjaweed and RSF militias.
One particularly disturbing testimony came from a young girl who said that her four siblings were killed by the militia in Elgeneina. She and her parents fled the killing, but on the dangerous 32-kilometer trek to Adré, their belongings were looted by the militiamen. The girl said that she and the other children were called "criminals" by the militiamen. Her facial expression as she told the story was heartbreaking.
This is just one example of the horrific violence that Sudanese refugees have experienced. It is important to listen to their stories and bear witness to their suffering. We must do everything we can to help them rebuild their lives and find peace (see the exclusive interview including the footage from Adré via ref. 11).

The written word is a powerful tool that can be used to document atrocities and war crimes. This documentation is essential for holding perpetrators accountable, raising awareness, and preserving the memories of the victims.
In the case of Darfur, the written word has been used to document the crimes of the Sudanese government and the RSF. This documentation has helped to bring attention to the Darfur crisis and to pressure the international community to take action since 2003 to date.

The DARFUR Union in the UK has been documenting the atrocities, war crimes, and crimes against humanity committed in Darfur by the Bashir regime, the army, the RSF, and the Janjaweed since 2003. The Union has also documented the ongoing violence in Darfur since Bashir's removal from power in 2019. The Union uses written accounts to present evidence of the violence to UK officials, institutions, and embassies. The Union also works closely with the International Criminal Court (ICC) and Human Rights Watch (HRW).
The aforementioned work has been published on its website and social media channels. For example, the Union provided a written account of the inhumane and horrific killing, desecration, and mutilation of the late Khamis Abdel Allah Abaker, West Darfur State Governor, by the RSF. The Union also provided detailed descriptions of four exhibits of evidence to the ICC (ref. 12).

*Action Action Action Now*

The DARFUR Union in the UK reiterates that the international community has been slow to take action on the situation in Sudan and Darfur. The Union is concerned that the international community is not prioritising the ongoing war crimes committed against the local population in Darfur by the RSF and their allied Janjaweed militia. The Union is also concerned about the indiscriminate shelling by the RSF and the army in Nyala, which has killed hundreds of people and displaced hundreds of thousands more. The Union further states that the lack of urgency by the international community and humanitarian organisations is resulting in dire conditions in Adré. The Union urges the UK government, the international community, and aid agencies to take further action to help the people of Darfur and the refugees in Adré.
Here are the specific actions that the Union has highlighted in previous statements:

The international community should increase humanitarian assistance to Darfur and East Chad, Adré through the Port Sudan and Douala port, Cameroon. This assistance should include food, water, shelter, and healthcare. The international community has been slow to respond to the humanitarian crisis in Darfur, and this needs to change. Countries such as the UK, US, and France, as well as aid organisations like Oxfam and Save the Children, should make this a priority.
The leaders of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) should be held accountable for the crimes against humanity and war crimes they have committed against the people of Darfur. This includes Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, Abdelrahim Hamdan Dagalo, Algony Hamdan Dagalo (the CFO of the RSF), and Abdelrahman Juma Barak Allah, RSF commander in West Darfur. The RSF has been responsible for widespread violence and displacement in Darfur, and its leaders must be brought to justice.
Civilians in Darfur need to be protected from the Janjaweed militias. This can be done by empowering the Joint Forces, which are made up of signatories to the peace agreement. The Joint Forces need to be given a clear mandate and the resources they need to protect civilians.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) should be given more support to continue its investigations into war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur. The ICC is the only international court that can prosecute individuals for these crimes, and it is essential that it be allowed to do its work.
The fighting groups in Darfur must stop shelling civilian areas. The RSF must also withdraw from occupied neighbourhoods. The UN Security Council must put pressure on all parties to the conflict to end the violence.
The UN Security Council must reactivate Chapter 7 of the UN Charter. This would allow the Security Council to take more robust measures to stop the violence in Darfur. Reactivating Chapter 7 would send a clear message that the international community will not tolerate the continued impunity for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur.

The Union believes that these actions are necessary to end the war crimes in Darfur and protect the civilian population.

*Latest on South Darfur*

With regards to Nyala and the dire security and humanitarian conditions that the city and its people are experiencing, The DARFUR Union in the UK has documented the indiscriminate shelling by the RSF and SAF, which has caused civilian casualties and displacement. More than 100,000 people are believed to have been displaced and have sought refuge in the outskirts of the city. The Union is calling on both sides to comply with international humanitarian law, which prohibits the indiscriminate shelling of civilian areas. The shelling in Sika Hadid Neighbourhood has caused the death of 147 people. Due to the deteriorating security situation on the ground, it is very difficult to maintain the supply of food and medical supplies to the city as well as to the areas outskirts of the city where the new wave of IDP have just taken refuge.

It is important to emphasise that the RSF in Nyala are forcibly displacing people from their homes in the Texas, Karari, and Hai Alwadi neighborhoods, as they did in Elgeneina. Those who remain are being killed. It is important to highlight the horrific case of Mr. Ahmed Abaker Bargo Abdelraham, who was killed by the RSF in his home in front of his family. Several of his neighbours have suffered a similar fate.All of this is leading to the displacement of the local population and the changing of the region's demographics, which are all war crimes (ref. 13).

*Latest on West Darfur*

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) estimates that 243,200 people have fled to West Darfur State since fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) began. Humanitarian partners report that 3,318 families (about 16,600 people) from Elgeneina, Kereneik and Sirba localities in West Darfur State, and Zalingei in Central Darfur State, have taken refuge in Kulbus Town, Girgira, Mastura, Arwa, Wadi Bardi, Adarib, Barto, Sohosh and Shagug villages in Kulbus locality. These newly displaced people are in urgent need of food, water, shelter, healthcare, and other essential assistance. There are also unverified reports of 5,512 families (about 28,000 people) from Elgeneina, Sirba, Kondobe, Murnei and Abu Soro taking refuge in the Jebel Moon locality (ref. 14).

*Sudan, the country with the Most Forcibly Displaced People*

Sudan is now the African country with the most forcibly displaced people, with over 7.3 million people displaced as of June 2023, according to the latest reports from Africa Centre of Strategic Studies (ref. 15). This number is increasing due to the ongoing conflict and violence in the country, which has been ongoing since April 2023. The conflict has caused widespread destruction and displacement, and has led to human rights abuses, including war crimes particularly in Darfur.

*Final Thought*

Finally, the importance of documenting atrocities and war crimes using the written word cannot be overstated. This documentation is essential for ensuring justice for the victims, preventing future atrocities, and preserving the memories of those who have suffered.

Darfur Union in the UK

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