News Center_ Vast areas of Sudan are witnessing an escalating wave of systematic violations, including killings, torture, sexual violence, and looting, amid growing warnings from international human rights organizations about the seriousness of the deteriorating humanitarian and security situation, threatening to exacerbate the crisis and deepen the suffering of the population.

The International Independent Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan and the Joint African Union Fact-Finding Mission on the Human Rights Situation in Sudan issued a joint statement yesterday, Monday, April 13, warning of the continued state of impunity amid escalating serious and widespread human rights violations committed by the parties to the conflict.

The statement affirmed that the ongoing conflict in Sudan is characterized by extreme brutality and flagrant violations of the most basic rules of international and humanitarian law.

The two fact-finding missions concluded that both the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese army bear responsibility for committing serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights, with varying degrees of severity. These violations included killings, arbitrary detention, torture, as well as the widespread use of indiscriminate attacks targeting civilians, from which humanitarian operations and medical teams were not spared.

The statement drew attention to the systematic violations committed by the Rapid Support Forces, reflecting an organized and repeated pattern of conduct including looting, sexual violence, and ethnic targeting, which has destroyed the lives of the population and torn the fabric of communities. It affirmed that women, children, the elderly, and other vulnerable groups continue to bear a disproportionate burden of this conflict, which has resulted in one of the largest displacement crises in the world.

The joint statement stressed that accountability for the horrific crimes committed in Sudan is vital to prevent further violations, noting that unless perpetrators are held accountable, impunity—which is a key driver of this conflict—will continue to spread and will undermine the prospects for achieving lasting peace in Sudan and the wider region.

The statement called on all parties to the conflict, member states of the African Union and the United Nations, and regional and international bodies to prioritize efforts to secure a comprehensive and sustainable ceasefire, ensure full compliance with international and humanitarian law, including ensuring unimpeded access for humanitarian aid to all affected communities, as well as ensuring compliance with the arms embargo imposed on the Darfur region and implementing existing sanctions imposed by the United Nations and the African Union.

The statement also called for supporting the efforts of the International Criminal Court in Sudan and full cooperation with it, in addition to establishing an independent and complementary judicial mechanism to hold accountable those responsible for international crimes in the country, in line with ongoing efforts in the field of international justice, and granting the two missions access to all areas of Sudan to enable them to conduct independent and comprehensive investigations.

It is worth noting that the International Independent Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan was established by a resolution of the United Nations Human Rights Council, while the mandate of the Joint Fact-Finding Mission on the Human Rights Situation in Sudan is based on a decision of the African Union Peace and Security Council and was established by the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights.

Both missions were tasked with investigating alleged violations and abuses, and determining the facts, circumstances, and root causes behind them, in the context of the conflict that broke out in Sudan on April 15, 2023.