Amnesty International: UAE Support Escalates Sudan Rapid Crisis Response
According to the English section of webangah News Agency, citing Mehr News Agency and Amnesty International’s website, the organization issued a statement on Tuesday accusing the Rapid Support Forces of committing war crimes against civilians in Sudan, particularly in the city of El Fasher.
agnes Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary-General, said the world must not turn a blind eye or ignore reports of attacks by these forces on El Fasher. Survivors’ accounts reveal unimaginable atrocities committed in this city.
She added that this ongoing and widespread violence against civilians constitutes a war crime.
Callamard accused the UAE of facilitating these crimes, stating that its continued support for the Rapid Support Forces fuels a relentless cycle of violence against civilians in Sudan. She called on the international community to exert pressure on Abu Dhabi to end its support for these forces.
Amnesty International also released testimonies from 28 survivors of violence in El Fasher. these interviews were conducted with displaced persons residing in refugee camps across Chad at Sudan’s western border and within Sudanese towns including Tawilah and Altina.
The organization urged influential international and regional actors to take necessary steps to stop arms sales or transfers related to all parties involved in the conflict. It also called for immediate diplomatic pressure on leaders of the Rapid Support Forces to cease attacks against civilians, including sexual violence targeting women and girls.
The International Organization for Migration reports that since late last month over 100,000 civilians have fled El Fasher toward neighboring cities. Additionally, more than 40,000 people have escaped northern Kordofan.
The conflict between Sudanese army forces led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and former ally Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo-the commander of Rapid Support Forces-began in April 2023. It has sparked one of Africa’s worst humanitarian crises with over 12 million displaced people and tens of thousands killed.
At month-end last month, Rapid Support Forces gained control over El Fasher city in North Darfur province. this takeover displaced more than 100,000 civilians amid reports emerging about mass field executions, sexual violence incidents, and widespread looting within the city.
