UAE is deeply concerned about Sudan, urges dialogue on truce

Sheikh Shakhboot Bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, Minister of State, has expressed the UAE’s deep concern over violence in Sudan, particularly against women, children, and the elderly in Al Jazirah state, which resulted in the killing and wounding of a number of innocent civilians.

He underlined that the UAE is alarmed by reports of sexual violence against women and girls, the high risk of famine, and the continued suffering and displacement of thousands of civilians.

Sheikh Shakhboot Bin Nahyan called on the Sudanese warring parties to return to dialogue, respect their commitments under the Jeddah Declaration and the mechanisms proposed by the Aligned for Advancing Lifesaving and Peace in Sudan (ALPS) related to facilitating safe, urgent, and unhindered access to humanitarian aid. He also underscored the necessity for all parties to adhere to their obligations under international humanitarian law.

Furthermore, Sheikh Shakhboot emphasised the importance of protecting civilians according to international humanitarian law, and the need to ensure that they are not targeted during conflict.

A Sudanese national flag is attached to a machine gun in Aprag village, near Khartoum, Sudan. File/Reuters

In this regard, Sheikh Shakhboot reaffirmed the UAE’s unwavering position in calling for an immediate ceasefire, stressing its support for efforts to achieve national consensus toward forming a civilian-led government, in a way that meets the aspirations of the brotherly Sudanese people for development and prosperity.

Meanwhile, at least 13 people were shot dead on Sunday in an attack in Al Jazira state south of Khartoum, a medical source told AFP. “Thirteen people were killed as a result of the armed forces opening fire on civilians in the town of Al Hilaliya in eastern Al Jazira state,” about 70 kilometres north of the state capital Wad Madani, the source said on condition of anonymity.

The head of a UN-backed fact-finding team, Mohamed Chande Othman, has denounced “staggering violence” in Sudan since war broke out more than 18 months ago, starting with open fighting in the capital, Khartoum, that later spread across the country.

“We said in our report that we attribute sexual gender-based violence to armed forces in West Darfur, in Darfur, in greater Khartoum, and in Al Gezira (state),” the Tanzanian lawyer said by phone from Zimbabwe, where he was attending a conference.

This photo shows the Sudanese people fleeing the Al Jazira state on Friday. AFP

However, Othman said a renewed mandate from the UN Human Rights Council would allow his team of independent experts to investigate “credible” allegations of sexual exploitation by the Sudanese armed forces as well.

Sudan plunged into conflict in mid-April 2023, when long-simmering tensions between its military and paramilitary leaders broke out in the capital Khartoum and spread to other regions including western Darfur. The war has killed more than 24,000 people so far, according to Armed Conflict Location and Event Data, a group monitoring the conflict since it started.

The fact-finding mission released a more comprehensive version of its report presented in September to the rights council, which has 47 member countries. The broader report cited gang rapes, sexual slavery and the abduction of victims in many areas. “It’s important to highlight the horrendous nature and the widespread nature — the patterns of violence — that were committed,” Othman said.

His team found the sexual violence and allegations of enforced marriages and human trafficking across borders for sexual purposes took place mostly during invasions of towns and cities.

“Victims and witnesses consistently reported that perpetrators threatened them with weapons, including firearms, knives and whips to intimidate and coerce them,” the latest report said, citing violence like punching, beatings with sticks, and lashing before and during rape.

Sudanese people fleeing the Al Jazira state arrive at an area near the eastern city of Gedaref on Saturday. AFP

“Men and boys were also reportedly targeted while in detention with sexual violence, including rape, threats of rape, forced nudity and beating on the genitals, requiring further investigation,” it added.

The violence in Sudan has been unrelenting. On Sunday, a doctors group and the United Nations reported that fighters in east central Sudan’s Al Jazirah state carried out a multi-day attack that killed more than 120 people in one town.

On Tuesday, the UN migration agency said 14 million people — or over 30% of the country’s population — have been displaced either within Sudan or abroad because of the conflict, making it the world’s largest displacement crisis.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemned the attacks in Al Jazirah and the appalling reports of a large number of killings, detentions and acts of sexual violence against women and girls as well as the looting of homes and markets, and the burning of farms, his spokesman said. “Such acts may constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law,” UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. “Perpetrators of such serious violations must be held accountable.”

WAM / Agencies