Question: What are the primary
human rights and international
humanitarian law violations
identified by the UN Fact-Finding
Mission in Sudan and which party
committed them?
Answer: The primary violations
committed since the outbreak
of armed hostilities in mid-April
2023 are war crimes and crimes
against humanity, which are core
international crimes.
Regarding war crimes, the
Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and
its allied forces committed crimes
against humanity, including
murder of all kinds, torture
and outrages upon personal
dignity, particularly humiliating
and degrading treatment, rape,
sexual slavery,indecent assault;
persecution and pillaging towns
or places; conscripting or enlisting
children under the age of 15 or
using them to participate actively
in hostilities; and intentionally
directing attacks against civilians.
On its part, the Sudan Armed
Forces (SAF) of the Government of
Sudan committed the war crimes
of violence to life and person,
including murder, torture and
outrages upon personal dignity,
particularly humiliating and
degrading treatment.
When it comes to crimes
against humanity, the RSF and
allied militias also committed
murder, torture, enslavement, rape,
sexual slavery and persecution.
Q: Who was most targeted or
affected by these violations and
abuses?
A: The Sudanese civilian population
has borne, and continues to bear,
the brunt of the violence. It seems
as if the warring parties are at war
not with each other, but with the
civilian population. For instance,
In an Exclusive Interview with Senior Writer/Researcher SUKHDEV CHHATBAR, Chairperson of the UN Fact[1]Finding Mission in Sudan (UN-FFM) Justice Mohamed Chande Othman reveals alarming findings regarding the ongoing conflict. Since April 2023, both the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and its allied forces have committed international crimes. In addition, RSF also committed crimes against humanity. Over 18,800 people have been killed, millions displaced and many subjected to inhumane treatment. Justice Othman, former Chief Justice of Tanzania, stresses that the root causes of Sudan’s conflicts—lack of inclusive governance, inequality and impunity—must be addressed. The UN-FMM advocates for an extended arms embargo and international accountability through the ICC. Excerpts…
Q: What are the root causes of the
conflict?
A: Identifying the root causes of
the violence was a key part of our
mandate. Sudan has had more than
46 peace agreements in its history.
However, a major limitation of
past peace processes, identified
by the FFM, was their over-focus
on ending the cyclic conflicts
without addressing the root causes
or ensuring accountability for
perpetrators of mass atrocities.
The root causes include: (i)
lack of inclusive and democratic
governance and the centralization
of power (ii) unequal distribution
of wealth and resources ,
marginalization, and “neglect of
the peripheries,’’ and (iii) chronic
impunity for gross human rights
and international humanitarian
law violations.
For example, regarding the
situation in Darfur, referred to the
ICC by the United Nations Security
Council for crimes committed since
July 1, 2002, only one person is
currently facing trial in The Hague.
Four accused, including former
President Omar Al Bashir, remain
at large. Most perpetrators of past