Last week, a UN fact-finding mission for Sudan called for an independent and impartial force [11] to be deployed "without delay" to protect civilians. Its case would not have been harmed by reports this week of a new set of grave human rights violations in the country. In southeastern Sennar state, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF [12]) were accused of killing 40 people [13] in artillery strikes on local markets and residential areas, while in North Darfur's famine-stricken Zam Zam [14] displacement site, the RSF reportedly tightened a siege and arrested traders trying to supply the camp.
New reporting also emerged of earlier abuses [19], including the killing by the RSF and allied militias of over 70 civilians in the North Darfur town of Kutum [20] in June 2023, and there was renewed concern [21] about damage to Sudan's cultural identity [22] amid the looting of tens of thousands of precious artefacts from museums. The war began in April 2023 and has produced the world's largest displacement and hunger crises [15]. Recent mediation efforts have failed [16], with the army refusing to turn up and the RSF using its attendance to try to launder its terrible image.
From The New Humanitarian [23], Sept. 13. Some internal links added.
