Amnesty accuses Sudan's RSF of crimes against humanity in Darfur, calls for ceasefire

Amnesty International has accused Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of committing eight crimes against humanity against unarmed civilians in its quest to capture Al-Fasher amid the ongoing conflict in the country.

In a report titled 'Sudan: City Under Siege, Children Under Fire: Rapid Support Forces' Crimes Against Humanity in North Darfur,' Amnesty International called for an immediate ceasefire and the deployment of an international peacekeeping force to protect civilians.

The report also names three commanders of Sudan's paramilitary forces as being part of the command structure overseeing the war.

The report, compiled after months of research, paints what Amnesty describes as a grim picture of one of the world's forgotten humanitarian crises, with Al-Fasher remaining under siege and civilians bearing the brunt of the conflict.

"This is a war on civilians. The human toll of the conflict has been immense. The numbers are staggering. Consider this — tens of thousands of people have been killed, and many more have been injured. More than 10.5 million have been displaced within Sudan. Sixty-five per cent of those are children," said human rights researcher Dr. Japhet Biegon.

The report says women and children, particularly girls, have been disproportionately affected by the violence.

"Women and children were at high risk of sexual violence and rape, and were also subjected to very aggressive searches that amount to sexual violence. They were groped and touched all over their body," stated Amnesty International's Researcher Janine Morna.

The war, which began in April 2023, has claimed nearly 60,000 lives. Amnesty International is now calling for an immediate ceasefire and the deployment of an international peacekeeping force to protect civilians, while accusing several countries of fuelling the conflict by supplying arms.

"Tumebaini kwamba nchi mbali mbali zinafadhili vita hivi, zinawapa vikosi silaha, risasi na vyombo vingine. Nchi hizo ni kama vile Miliki za Kiarabu (UAE), Uchina, Urusi, Uturuki na Ufalme wa Saudia," Dr Biegon noted.

Amnesty Secretary General Agnes Callamard said the organisation had documented the flow of foreign-made weapons into Sudan despite international concerns.

"We have documented that foreign manufacturers of arms and military equipment, including Chinese and French weapons, have been imported into Darfur and other areas of Sudan. That should not be possible," Amnesty International Secretary General Agnes Callamard said.

Amnesty International named Al Fateh Abdullah Idris, alias Abu Lulu, Major General Gedo Hamdan Ahmed Mohamed, alias Abu Shouk, and Lieutenant Colonel Abbas Khater Bakhit as RSF leaders allegedly responsible for violence against civilians.

The rights group also called on Kenya, which has previously been accused of maintaining close ties with the RSF leadership, to use its regional influence to push for peace.

Kenya has previously hosted RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo and other RSF officials, who later announced the formation of a parallel government. The country has also faced allegations of providing Kenyan travel documents to some members of the RSF leadership.

"We are calling on Kenya to leverage its influence and regional power to make sure that the RSF and other parties to the conflict stop the violations — that they agree to the ceasefire, and support a peacekeeping mission," Dr Biegon added.

Amnesty International has also urged the international community to act urgently to prevent what it warns could escalate into genocide.