Sudan – El Fasher crimes bear “clear indications of genocide”… and an urgent investigation into Al-Obeid’s violations

The mission warned – in New report Published today, Wednesday – that similar patterns of devastating violations against civilians are currently being committed in the city of Al-Obeid, announcing the launch of an urgent investigation into any alleged human rights violations or abuses.

A call to action to prevent further disasters

An investigation mission stated that its recent investigations detailed additional evidence of atrocities being committed in El Fasher, including detention, torture, holding hostages for ransom, and the forced disappearance of civilians. The evidence is based on the serious violations of international law documented by the mission in its previous report entitled “Indicators of Genocide in El Fasher.”

Mohammed Chandi Othman, head of the fact-finding mission, said: “Our investigations not only provide the evidentiary basis for our conclusions about El Fasher, but also reflect the Mission’s continuing investigations into violations that have devastated communities across Darfur.”

Chandy explained that the patterns documented by the mission in El Fasher – “which include encirclement, attacks on civilian infrastructure, restrictions on humanitarian access, and widespread violations against civilians – serve as a stark warning. The international community must heed these lessons and act to prevent further disasters.”

Mode in white

The mission said that its report today comes at a time of increasing concern about the situation in El Obeid, where more than half a million residents and more than 100,000 internally displaced persons face increasing insecurity, attacks on vital infrastructure, and restrictions affecting access to basic services.

The UN Human Rights Council adopted a resolution on July 6, in which it expressed grave concern about the imminent risk of large-scale atrocities by the Rapid Support Forces in Al-Obeid and surrounding areas, and requested the fact-finding mission to urgently investigate any alleged violations or abuses of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, and related international crimes allegedly committed in the region.

Warnings of a repeat of the El Fasher tragedy in El Obeid

The mission had warned in the urgent discussion of the Human Rights Council – which preceded the adoption of the resolution – that patterns previously observed in El Fasher were beginning to emerge in El Obeid, including the encirclement of the city, attacks on infrastructure, increasing humanitarian isolation, and escalating risks to civilians.

The mission stressed that such warning indicators had preceded devastating atrocities elsewhere in Sudan, and called for immediate action to protect the population.

The fact-finding mission renewed its calls to ensure effective accountability, including immediate cooperation and action by the International Criminal Court.

The mission stated that it would continue its investigations and would submit reports on the situation in El Obeid and its surrounding areas to the Human Rights Council and the General Assembly, in accordance with the resolution issued by the Council.