GENEVA (AP) - The United Nations' leading human rights body convened for a one-day special session on Friday to address the alarming situation in Sudan’s Darfur region, particularly focusing on the recent violence in the city of el-Fasher. This session aimed to highlight the gruesome reports of hundreds of killings, especially at the Saudi Hospital in el-Fasher, attributed to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group during a violent conflict with the Sudanese army.
The Human Rights Council engaged in discussions about a draft resolution that calls for an urgent inquiry into the crimes and human rights violations perpetrated by the RSF in el-Fasher. Volker Türk, the U.N. human rights chief, emphasized the preventable nature of the atrocities, stating, "The atrocities that are unfolding in el-Fasher were foreseen and preventable, but they were not prevented. They constitute the gravest of crimes."
Last month, the RSF seized control of el-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, and launched violent attacks within the city, resulting in over 450 deaths, as reported by the World Health Organization (WHO). Eyewitness accounts indicate that RSF fighters conducted house-to-house raids, executing civilians and committing acts of sexual violence. Türk further expressed that no one should be surprised by the reported mass killings and other brutal acts in el-Fasher since the RSF took control, as there have been widespread accounts of ethnic targeting, sexual violence, arbitrary detentions, and violent attacks on health facilities and humanitarian workers.
The ongoing conflict between the Sudanese military and the RSF, once allies, has escalated into a full-blown war in 2023. According to WHO estimates, the violence has resulted in at least 40,000 fatalities, and the United Nations reports that around 12 million people have been displaced due to the conflict, with many aid organizations suggesting that the actual death toll may be significantly higher.
The draft resolution, spearheaded by several European nations, emphasizes the need for a fact-finding team to identify those responsible for the atrocities in el-Fasher and assist in holding them accountable. However, critics note that the language in the resolution lacks the strength needed to compel action. Mona Rishmawi, a member of the fact-finding team, described el-Fasher as "a crime scene" and highlighted the evidence her mission has gathered, which includes accounts of killings, torture, rape, and abductions. "A comprehensive investigation is required to establish the full picture, but what we already know is devastating," she stated.
The Human Rights Council, consisting of 47 U.N. member countries, possesses no authority to enforce compliance from nations or groups but serves to illuminate human rights violations and document them for potential use in international inquiries, such as those executed by the International Criminal Court. The findings from the council could play a pivotal role in fostering accountability for the ongoing crisis in Sudan.
