Geneva – Sudan Now
Sudan called for an end to what it described as UAE support for the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) during a session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, arguing that halting external backing for the paramilitary group is essential to ending the war and reducing violations against civilians.
Speaking before the council in her capacity as chair of Sudan’s National Committee for the Investigation of Violations of National and International Humanitarian Law, Attorney General Intisar Ahmed Abdel Aal presented findings from the committee’s fifth interim report and outlined ongoing national accountability efforts.
Abdel Aal said the committee’s participation was intended to brief the council on measures taken by Sudanese authorities to achieve justice for victims, prevent impunity and pursue accountability for crimes committed during the conflict.
The war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF, which erupted in April 2023, has triggered one of the world’s largest displacement crises, forcing millions from their homes and drawing increasing international scrutiny over allegations of abuses committed during the conflict.
According to Abdel Aal, the national committee has documented multiple patterns of violations allegedly committed by the RSF against civilians, infrastructure and state institutions. She said these included killings, forced displacement, rape, abductions, enforced disappearances, arbitrary detention and attacks targeting civilians on ethnic grounds.
She told the council that some of the documented violations could amount to war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide under international law. The attorney general also referred to alleged abuses committed in detention facilities operated by the RSF, including Shalla Prison in El Fasher and Dagrees Prison in Nyala.
Presenting figures compiled by the committee, Abdel Aal reported that 149,860 criminal cases had been registered since the outbreak of the conflict. She said investigations had been completed in 21,787 cases referred to national courts, while 10,417 cases had already been adjudicated.
The committee also documented 2,200 rape cases, 14,999 cases of detention and enforced disappearance, 30,971 killings and 44,617 injuries, according to the report.
Sudan’s judicial authorities have sought to expand investigations into conflict-related crimes during the war, while government officials have repeatedly argued that national institutions should play the leading role in accountability efforts.
Abdel Aal said preliminary estimates placed economic losses resulting from damage to infrastructure at approximately $771 billion.
She reiterated Sudan’s commitment to accountability and cooperation with international human rights mechanisms that operate with the consent of the Sudanese government, while emphasizing respect for Sudan’s sovereignty and the jurisdiction of its national institutions.
In her closing remarks, Abdel Aal called on the international community to support Sudan’s efforts to end the conflict, strengthen national justice mechanisms and stop what she described as external support provided by the United Arab Emirates to the RSF. She also called for measures to prevent the recruitment and transfer of foreign fighters into Sudan.
The UAE has previously rejected Sudanese accusations that it supports the RSF, while Sudanese authorities have repeatedly accused Abu Dhabi of backing the paramilitary group during the conflict.
