The United Nations has raised serious concerns over ongoing atrocities in Sudan, warning that the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have likely committed “large-scale atrocities” in El-Fasher and other regions affected by conflict.
Speaking to reporters in Nairobi, UN Under-Secretary-General and Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide, Chaloka Beyani, stated that both the RSF and Sudan’s regular army, along with allied militias, have been implicated in widespread human rights violations.
The UN report highlights the intensity and scale of violence, including attacks on civilians, displacement, and destruction of property.
Beyani emphasized that the atrocities have not been confined to frontline combat areas, noting that civilians continue to bear the brunt of the conflict, with limited access to humanitarian aid and basic services.
“Both the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese army, along with allied militias, have carried out actions that put civilian populations at grave risk,” he said.
The Sudan crisis, ongoing since the power struggle between the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces escalated, has drawn global attention due to its humanitarian and security implications.
The UN has repeatedly called for immediate cessation of hostilities, protection of civilians, and unhindered access for humanitarian organizations to deliver aid to affected areas.
Experts say the reported atrocities could amount to war crimes or crimes against humanity, with both state and non-state actors accused of targeting non-combatants, medical facilities, and civilian infrastructure.
Chaloka Beyani warned that failure to investigate and prosecute these abuses could entrench a culture of impunity, further destabilizing Sudan and the wider region.
According to UN agencies, hundreds of thousands of Sudanese have been displaced internally or fled to neighbouring countries. The conflict has severely disrupted food supply chains, healthcare services, and education, compounding an already fragile humanitarian situation.
Aid groups are calling for urgent international support, including funding, safe corridors for aid delivery, and diplomatic pressure to enforce ceasefire agreements.
The UN continues to urge all parties in Sudan to:
• Immediately halt attacks on civilians
• Allow safe humanitarian access
• Cooperate with international investigations into alleged atrocities
Beyani stressed that prevention of further genocide and mass atrocities remains the international community’s top priority.
“Swift and decisive action is essential to prevent a further escalation of violence and ensure accountability for those responsible,” he said.
