The world must take action on Sudan now
After 18 months of what many dubbed a ‘forgotten war’ – with horrifying reports of mass killings, summary executions, ethnic cleansing, sexual violence, abductions, and thousands of civilians losing their lives to starvation – there is now global attention on the conflict in Sudan following the Rapid Support Forces’ (RSF) capture of El Fasher in late October.
It’s time for concrete and sustained political action to bring an end to the atrocities.
Following calls from the international community, including human rights and humanitarian organisations, the UN Human Rights Council has announced that a special session will now take place on Friday to address one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
Those responsible for severe violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law, including freedom of expression and the right to information, must be held to account.
Since the war started, at least 15 journalists have been killed. Following the RSF takeover of El Fasher, at least 13 journalists have been detained or gone missing, and many have faced smear campaigns . The targeting of journalists and civilians constitutes a war crime. All those detained must be immediately released.
In times of conflict, reliable information is a matter of life and death. Telecommunications and the internet must be restored across Sudan so that people can freely communicate and access humanitarian aid. Under international human rights and humanitarian law, social media companies have a responsibility to stop the spread of propaganda, hate speech, and incitement to violence, while ensuring any evidence of incitement or war crimes is preserved.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has stated the atrocities in Sudan, which continue to happen with impunity, could amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.
In its special session on Sudan, we urge the Human Rights Council to task the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan to document atrocities, and for the report to be presented to the UN Security Council for immediate action. The Security Council must also extend the existing arms embargo to the whole of Sudan, and ensure that embargo is properly implemented. There must be an immediate ceasefire.
We also urge the Fact-Finding Mission and the ICC to consider how the escalating information war – including internet shutdowns, the spread of propaganda, and the weaponisation of social media – exacerbates harm to civilians, obstructs vital documentation of gross human rights and humanitarian law violations, and contributes to the commission of crimes.
The special session on Sudan offers an opportunity to expedite accountability for widespread and devastating violations, and to help alleviate the catastrophic suffering of so many. The international community and media must no longer turn a blind eye. Sudan cannot be allowed to become a ‘forgotten war’ again.
