War Crimes in a Week: Darfur Union in UK Addresses RSF's 6-Day Attack, Advocates for Civilian Safet

03:21 PM April, 14 2024

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Renewed RSF attacks on western al-Fashir, burning villages and killing people in the area - the villages of Umm Ashoush, Jaranga and others that were invaded and destroyed.
US Warns Against Attack on Fashir - Further violence would worsen Darfur's dire situation.
The upcoming Paris conference raises concerns. Its title suggests a focus on Sudan's humanitarian crisis, yet its exclusivity is troubling. Several organisations and regions of Sudan were denied participation. This inconsistency undermines the conference's credibility. The irony is that one of the organisers belong to the same unit that was working with RSF in the previous project to halt migration from the Horn of Africa!
Demand Accountability for RSF Crimes - Call for end to war crimes, targeting perpetrators like RSF leaders.
Urgent Action Needed to Protect Civilians - Impose sanctions, support ICC investigations, and increase humanitarian aid.

London, UK – April 14, 2024 – Darfur Union in the UK expresses its deepest outrage and sorrow at the recent attacks perpetrated by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on defenseless civilians in the villages of Sarfaya, Umm Ashoush, Jarunaqa, Narkaniya, Jaqi, Muqrin Majdoub, Hillat Umm Heglig, and Hillat Kob Athar in West al-Fashir, Darfur.

In parallel, the US Special Envoy for Sudan Tom Perrello warned against any attack on the city of Fasher, stating on his official X account that "any attack on al-Fashir would be catastrophic for Darfur and would add fuel to the fire that is burning Sudan.

Paris Conference - Still Unclear re Objective

The upcoming International Humanitarian Conference for Sudan and its Neighbours, scheduled for April 15th in Paris, offers a glimmer of hope for addressing the dire situation in Darfur. Disappointingly, Darfur Union in the UK's request to participate was denied, with the organisers citing the conference's limited invitation-only format. The irony is that they very EU was implicit in dealing with RSF back in 2016-2017 as Hemiditi became their gatekeeper to tackle migrants flow from the Horn of Africa travelling and passing through Sudan (ref. 1). While we acknowledge the participation of key stakeholders, we urge attendees to recognise the gravity of the crisis. The suffering in Darfur is not a nameless, faceless tragedy. It is the result of targeted violence perpetrated by the RSF. We call upon participants to acknowledge the perpetrators by name and hold them accountable for their actions. Euphemisms and bureaucratic neutrality cannot mask the reality of war crimes being committed in Darfur and Khartoum, the obstruction of humanitarian aid, and the looting of essential supplies by the RSF and allied militias. The conference must deliver a clear message condemning these atrocities and ensuring unimpeded humanitarian access to those in need.

Action Now

DARFUR Union UK highlights the seriousness of these war crimes and horrific attacks and calls for an immediate end to the violence against innocent civilians.
We urge the international community to take immediate and decisive action to address this escalating crisis.
A Call to Action for the International Community
The ongoing violence in Darfur demands a strong and unified response from the international community. We call for the following urgent actions:
Impose targeted sanctions on individuals and entities involved in committing crimes against humanity in Sudan.
Support the International Criminal Court (ICC) in investigating and prosecuting those responsible for war crimes, including sexual violence. This includes providing resources for witness protection and ensuring the safety of those who come forward.
Hold the leaders of the RSF accountable for their crimes against humanity and war crimes, including Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, Abdelrahim Hamdan Dagalo (sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury), Algony Hamdan Dagalo, and Abdelrahman Juma Barak Allah (also sanctioned by the US Treasury). Additionally, support the ICC on the ongoing cases of Abdelrahman Kushayb and bring to justice the remaining ICC indictees: Omar al-Bashir, Abdelrahim Mohammed Hussein, and Ahmed Haroun.
Provide a mandate and resources to the Joint Forces established by the Juba Peace Agreement to expand their operations and effectively protect civilians.
Put pressure on all fighting groups in Darfur and Sudan to stop shelling civilian areas, end the war, and for the RSF to withdraw from occupied territories, including Darfur, Khartoum, Al-Jazira, and other cities.
Increase humanitarian assistance to Darfur, Sudan, and East Chad through Port Sudan and Douala port, Cameroon. The dire situation in East Chad, with food and medical supply shortages and outbreaks of malaria and other infectious diseases, necessitates immediate action to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe.
Reactivate Chapter VII of the UN Charter. The time for inaction is over. The international community must send a clear message that impunity will not be tolerated. Reactivating Chapter VII, which authorizes the use of force to maintain international peace and security, could be a necessary step to curb the violence and protect civilians.

Darfur Union in the UK stands in solidarity with the victims of these attacks and all those suffering in Darfur and Sudan. We will continue to advocate for peace, justice, and accountability until a lasting solution is achieved.

Darfur Union in the UK