Amnesty warns of ongoing 'war crimes' in Sudan’s Darfur

By Magdalene Mukami

NAIROBI, Kenya (AA) - Rights group Amnesty International Tuesday warned that Sudanese government forces “continue to commit war crimes” in Darfur state.

In a report released by the regional office in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital, London-based Amnesty International said it had fresh evidence of government-sponsored crimes in Darfur targeting peacekeepers.

“[It] has disturbing new evidence, including satellite imagery, showing that Sudanese government forces, including the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied militias, have continued to commit war crimes and other serious human rights violations in Darfur,” read the statement.

The rights group warned that the government sponsored-violence led to the destruction of at least 45 villages, unlawful killings, and sexual violence in Darfur.

“In Darfur, as in Khartoum, we’ve witnessed the Rapid Support Forces’ (RSF) despicable brutality against Sudanese civilians -- the only difference being, in Darfur they have committed atrocities with impunity for years,” Kumi Naidoo, secretary general of Amnesty International, said.

The Amnesty warned that if the UN and the African Union Peace and Security Council close UNAMID, a hybrid operation of the UN and the AU in Darfur, tens of thousands of civilians will be left at the mercy of the RSF, “a ruthless Sudanese security force that has committed crimes against humanity and war crimes.”

A crucial vote will be delivered on the future of the UNAMID mission on June 27.