Latest news with #MohamedChandeOthman
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
UN fact-finding mission says Sudan conflict escalating, aid weaponised
The UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan has warned that both sides in the country's civil war have escalated the use of heavy weaponry in populated areas while weaponising humanitarian relief, amid devastating consequences for civilians. 'Let us be clear: the conflict in Sudan is far from over,' said Mohamed Chande Othman, chair of the Fact-Finding Mission, which presented its latest findings to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Tuesday. 'The scale of human suffering continues to deepen. The fragmentation of governance, the militarisation of society, and the involvement of foreign actors are fuelling an ever-deadlier crisis.' The brutal conflict, now in its third year, erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), and has killed tens of thousands of civilians and displaced more than 13 million Sudanese, according to United Nations data. The UN has previously said that Sudan is experiencing the world's 'worst humanitarian crisis'. The mission found that both sides escalated the use of heavy weaponry in populated areas. In May, an RSF drone strike on Obeid International Hospital in North Kordofan killed six civilians, while earlier this month, an SAF bombing in Al Koma killed at least 15 civilians. Aid was also being weaponised by the SAF, which imposed bureaucratic restrictions, as well as by the RSF, which looted convoys and blocked aid, the group said. The mission also documented a sharp rise in sexual and gender-based violence, including gang rape, abduction, sexual slavery, and forced marriage, mostly in RSF-controlled displacement camps. Member of the Fact-Finding Mission Mona Rishmawi said what began as a political and security crisis has become 'a grave human rights and protection emergency, marked by international crimes that stain all involved'. 'It is unconscionable that this devastating war is entering its third year with no sign of resolution,' she said. Sudan has seen growing instability since longtime President Omar al-Bashir was removed from power in 2019 after months of anti-government protests. In October 2021, the Sudanese military staged a coup against the civilian government of Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, leading to his resignation in early 2022. Sudan's army chief, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and rival Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, who leads the RSF, had shared power after the coup but then started fighting for control of the state and its resources in April 2023. Last week, the Sudanese Army accused the forces of eastern Libyan military commander Khalifa Haftar of attacking Sudanese border posts, the first time it has charged its northwestern neighbour with direct involvement in the civil war. Egypt, which has also backed Haftar, has long supported the Sudanese Army. Sudan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused the United Arab Emirates of backing the RSF, which it denies.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
One-year-olds among those raped during Sudan civil war, UN says
Warning: This article contains details of sexual violence that some people may find distressing Armed men are raping and sexually assaulting children as young as one during Sudan's civil war, says the UN children's agency, Unicef. Mass sexual violence has been widely documented as a weapon of war in the country's nearly two-year conflict. But Unicef's report is the first detailed account about the impact of rape on young children in Sudan. A third of the victims were boys, who typically face "unique challenges" in reporting such crimes and seeking the help they need. Unicef says that, although 221 rape cases against children have been officially reported since the start of 2024, the true number is likely to be much higher. Sudan is a socially conservative country where huge societal stigma stops survivors and their families from speaking out about rape, as does the fear of retribution from armed groups. The Unicef report provides an appalling window into the abuse of children in the country's civil war. Perhaps its most shocking revelation is that 16 of the victims were under the age of five years, including four infants. Unicef does not say who is responsible, but other UN investigations have blamed the majority of rapes on the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), saying RSF fighters had a pattern of using sexual violence to terrorise civilians and suppress opposition to their advances. The RSF, which is fighting this war against its former allies, the Sudanese Armed Forces, has denied any wrongdoing. "The sheer scale of sexual violence we have documented in Sudan is staggering," said Mohamed Chande Othman, chair of the UN's fact-finding mission when its previous report was published in October. According to evidence presented by international human rights groups, victims in the RSF's stronghold of Darfur were often targeted because they were black African rather than Arab, apparently with the aim of driving them out of Sudan. The UN humanitarian response for Sudan is already underfunded. Recent cuts in US aid are expected to reduce programmes to help the victims even further. What is going on in Sudan? A simple guide 'People will starve' because of US aid cut to Sudan 'Rape me, not my daughter' - women tell BBC of sexual violence in Sudan's civil war Harrowing details in Unicef's report underscore the dire situation. "After nine at night, someone opens the door, carrying a whip, selects one of the girls, and takes her to another room. I could hear the little girl crying and screaming. They were raping her," recalls Omnia (not her real name), an adult female survivor who was held by armed men in a room with other women and girls. "Every time they raped her, this girl would come back covered in blood. She is still just a young child. They only release these girls at dawn, and they return almost unconscious. Each of them cries and speaks incoherently. During the 19 days I spent there, I reached a point where I wanted to end my life." As a fractured nation at war, Sudan is one of the most challenging places on earth to access services and frontline workers. The vast number of people displaced by the war has made women and children more vulnerable to attack – three out of four school-age girls are out of school, the UN says. The devastating outcome of these crimes is aggravated by the fact that victims have few places to turn to for medical help, because many medical facilities have been destroyed, looted or occupied by the warring parties. Recent US aid cuts may be endangering even the limited services available to protect children. Unicef has been providing safe spaces for children through a network of local activists who have set up what are known as Emergency Response Rooms to deal with the crises in their communities. The activists relied quite heavily on US aid, and most have been forced to shut down, according to a Sudanese coordinating committee that monitors them. More broadly, the UN organization dedicated to protecting women's rights says local organisations led by women are vital in delivering support to survivors of sexual violence. But they receive less than 2% of the total funding of the UN's Sudan Humanitarian Fund. The BBC learned that at least one of these local groups, known as "She Leads", was forced to close when US funding was stopped. It was not a big expense, measured in the tens of thousands of dollars, but enabled case workers to reach around 35 survivors a month, said Sulaima Elkhalifa, a Sudanese human rights defender who runs a government unit on combatting violence against woman and helped organize the private initiative. Those who have been raped by armed men "don't have the luxury of being depressed," she told the BBC. The demands of war – finding food, needing to flee – leave no space to deal with trauma, she added. Sudan fighters accused of storming famine-hit camp Villagers killed execution-style in Sudan, activists say 'I miss my school': BBC launches programme for children in war zones Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
BBC News
04-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Sudan civil war: One-year-olds among those raped, UN says
Warning: This article contains details of sexual violence that some people may find distressing Armed men are raping and sexually assaulting children as young as one during Sudan's civil war, says the UN children's agency, sexual violence has been widely documented as a weapon of war in the country's nearly two-year Unicef's report is the first detailed account about the impact of rape on young children in Sudan.A third of the victims were boys, who typically face "unique challenges" in reporting such crimes and seeking the help they need. Unicef says that, although 221 rape cases against children have been officially reported since the start of 2024, the true number is likely to be much higher. Sudan is a socially conservative country where huge societal stigma stops survivors and their families from speaking out about rape, as does the fear of retribution from armed Unicef report provides an appalling window into the abuse of children in the country's civil war. Perhaps its most shocking revelation is that 16 of the victims were under the age of five years, including four infants. Unicef does not say who is responsible, but other UN investigations have blamed the majority of rapes on the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), saying RSF fighters had a pattern of using sexual violence to terrorise civilians and suppress opposition to their RSF, which is fighting this war against its former allies, the Sudanese Armed Forces, has denied any wrongdoing."The sheer scale of sexual violence we have documented in Sudan is staggering," said Mohamed Chande Othman, chair of the UN's fact-finding mission when its previous report was published in to evidence presented by international human rights groups, victims in the RSF's stronghold of Darfur were often targeted because they were black African rather than Arab, apparently with the aim of driving them out of UN humanitarian response for Sudan is already underfunded. Recent cuts in US aid are expected to reduce programmes to help the victims even further. Harrowing details in Unicef's report underscore the dire situation."After nine at night, someone opens the door, carrying a whip, selects one of the girls, and takes her to another room. I could hear the little girl crying and screaming. They were raping her," recalls Omnia (not her real name), an adult female survivor who was held by armed men in a room with other women and girls."Every time they raped her, this girl would come back covered in blood. She is still just a young child. They only release these girls at dawn, and they return almost unconscious. Each of them cries and speaks incoherently. During the 19 days I spent there, I reached a point where I wanted to end my life." As a fractured nation at war, Sudan is one of the most challenging places on earth to access services and frontline workers. The vast number of people displaced by the war has made women and children more vulnerable to attack – three out of four school-age girls are out of school, the UN says. Trump government cuts end vital help The devastating outcome of these crimes is aggravated by the fact that victims have few places to turn to for medical help, because many medical facilities have been destroyed, looted or occupied by the warring US aid cuts may be endangering even the limited services available to protect has been providing safe spaces for children through a network of local activists who have set up what are known as Emergency Response Rooms to deal with the crises in their activists relied quite heavily on US aid, and most have been forced to shut down, according to a Sudanese coordinating committee that monitors broadly, the UN organization dedicated to protecting women's rights says local organisations led by women are vital in delivering support to survivors of sexual violence. But they receive less than 2% of the total funding of the UN's Sudan Humanitarian BBC learned that at least one of these local groups, known as "She Leads", was forced to close when US funding was was not a big expense, measured in the tens of thousands of dollars, but enabled case workers to reach around 35 survivors a month, said Sulaima Elkhalifa, a Sudanese human rights defender who runs a government unit on combatting violence against woman and helped organize the private who have been raped by armed men "don't have the luxury of being depressed," she told the demands of war – finding food, needing to flee – leave no space to deal with trauma, she added. More about Sudan's civil war from the BBC: Sudan fighters accused of storming famine-hit campVillagers killed execution-style in Sudan, activists say'I miss my school': BBC launches programme for children in war zones Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
