United Nations asserts Rapid Support Forces committed crimes against humanity in Sudan.

Arabian Sea Newspaper - Special

Arab Sea_AFP: The United Nations Fact-Finding Mission in Sudan stated on Friday that it had concluded that the Rapid Support Forces "committed crimes against humanity, particularly murder, torture, forced displacement, persecution on ethnic grounds, and other inhumane acts." War crimes affecting both sides of the conflict The mission also found evidence that both sides committed war crimes in the ongoing conflict between the regular army and the Rapid Support Forces, which has claimed the lives of thousands since it erupted in April 2023. In a statement, the head of the mission, Mohamed Chande Othman, said, "Our findings leave no room for doubt: civilians are paying the highest price in this war." He added, "Both sides have deliberately targeted civilians through attacks, arbitrary executions, arbitrary detention, torture, and inhumane treatment in detention centers, including deprivation of food, health services, and medical care." He continued, "These are not accidental tragedies, but deliberate strategies that amount to war crimes." "Countless crimes against humanity" In addition to accusing both sides of responsibility for the brutal conflict, the investigators also highlighted the brutality of the Rapid Support Forces in El Fasher, which they have been besieging since May 2024. The statement said that "during the siege of El Fasher and its surrounding areas, the Rapid Support Forces committed countless crimes against humanity, including murder, torture, enslavement, rape, sexual slavery, and sexual violence," in addition to "forced displacement and persecution on ethnic, gender, and political grounds." It added that "the Rapid Support Forces and its allies used starvation as a weapon of war and deprived civilians of the most basic necessities for their survival, including food, medicine, and relief supplies - which may amount to a crime against humanity with the aim of extermination." In addition, the fact-finding mission called for international action to bring the perpetrators of these crimes to justice. Mona Rishmawi, a member of the mission, said in her statement: "Accountability is not optional, but a legal and moral imperative to protect civilians and prevent further atrocities."