The Arab Foundation for the Support of Civil Society and Human Rights Support strongly condemns and denounces the grave crimes currently taking place in the city of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur State, including mass killings and widespread atrocities against unarmed civilians. These crimes are being committed systematically and in an organized manner by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), constituting flagrant violations of all international laws and norms.
The Arab Foundation affirms that the documented patterns of killings, forced displacement, sieges, ethnic targeting, and deliberate starvation of civilians amount to acts of genocide and war crimes. These actions represent clear violations of the Geneva Conventions, international humanitarian law, and peremptory norms of international law that strictly prohibit attacks against civilians during armed conflicts.
Sherif Helaly, Executive Director of the Arab Foundation, emphasized that the silence and slow response of the international community in the face of these crimes embolden perpetrators to continue their scorched-earth policy and pose a serious threat to regional peace and security across the Horn of Africa.
The Arab Foundation also strongly condemns the involvement of regional states in the ongoing conflict in Sudan, particularly the United Arab Emirates, through military, financial, and political support provided to the Rapid Support Forces.
In this context, the Arab Foundation calls for the following:
Urgent action by the United Nations Security Council and the UN General Assembly to condemn these crimes, issue an immediate ceasefire resolution, and adopt urgent measures to protect civilians, including the imposition of a no-fly zone and the establishment of safe humanitarian corridors.
Referral of crimes committed by the Rapid Support Forces to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for investigation and prosecution of those responsible, in accordance with the Rome Statute.
Calling on all UN Member States to cease any form of support, including the provision of weapons, ammunition, or funding to the Rapid Support Forces, in compliance with relevant Security Council resolutions imposing arms embargoes on parties violating international humanitarian law.
The establishment of an independent international commission of inquiry under the auspices of the United Nations and the African Union to document violations in Darfur and all affected regions.
Strengthening the role of regional and international humanitarian organizations to ensure the delivery of aid and relief to hundreds of thousands of besieged civilians.
Calling on the legitimate Sudanese government and all political and civil forces to unite in confronting war crimes and defending Sudan’s unity and territorial integrity.
The Foundation stresses that justice and accountability are the only path to ending the cycle of violence, and that turning a blind eye to these crimes constitutes a betrayal of the principles of humanity and international law, opening the door to further atrocities against the Sudanese people.
