Khartoum, Sudan – (African Boulevard News) – The United Nations has expressed concern over the possibility of crimes against humanity being committed in Sudan’s Darfur region. The head of the UN mission in Sudan, Volker Perthes, issued a statement on Tuesday, detailing his concerns over the escalating violence in the region.
Darfur has been at war with itself since 2003, when rebels from non-Arab tribes took up arms accusing the government of neglecting the region. In response, the government-backed Arab militias known as the Janjaweed went on the rampage, killing and displacing thousands of people from non-Arab tribes.
In recent months, the situation has escalated, with fresh reports of attacks on villages, increased looting, and burning of houses, leading to the displacement of thousands of people. The UN estimates that over two million people have been displaced by the conflict, with more than 300,000 people killed in the Darfur conflict.
Perthes said that the recent upsurge in violence in Darfur had led to the displacement of over 70,000 people, adding that the situation could constitute “crimes against humanity”. He also called on all factions to respect international law, including the rules of war and human rights laws.
“Recent developments, including reports of attacks on civilians and looting, suggest that the situation in Darfur may be escalating, and could constitute crimes against humanity,” Perthes said.
The UN’s concerns about the situation in Darfur have been echoed by human rights groups, who have long been calling for more action to be taken to address the conflict. In a statement on Tuesday, the International Criminal Court (ICC) also expressed concern over the situation, calling on all parties to respect the rights of civilians.
“The ICC is deeply concerned about reports of violence and atrocities in Darfur. We call on all parties to respect the rights of civilians and abide by international law,” the statement read.
The ICC has previously indicted Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide in relation to the Darfur conflict. However, he has not been arrested and continues to deny the allegations.
As the situation in Darfur continues to escalate, it is hoped that the international community will take swift action to address the conflict and prevent further atrocities from being committed.
