Sudan: Rapid Support Forces Accused of Brutal Massacre in West Darfur

2023-11-28 08:28:07

Photo- Families escaping Ardamata in West Darfur cross into Adre, Chad, after a wave of ethnic violence on November 7, 2023. Survivors recounted executions and looting in Ardamata, which they said were carried out by the RSF and allied Arab militias. (Reuters)

The African Time Monitoring

In a horrifying episode of targeted violence, the Rapid Support Forces, along with allied militias, allegedly unleashed a brutal massacre in West Darfur's Ardamata suburb, leaving hundreds of civilians dead and countless others displaced.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has sounded the alarm, describing the incident as an organised campaign of atrocities against predominantly Massalit civilians.

According to HRW's report, the violence occurred in early November 2023, with the forces not only killing civilians but also engaging in looting, assault, and unlawful detention in Ardamata. The United Nations Security Council is now under pressure to urgently strengthen its presence in Sudan to prevent further atrocities and safeguard the vulnerable civilians in Darfur.

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) estimates that around 800 people lost their lives during the November attacks in Ardamata, with local monitors suggesting a much higher toll between 1,300 and 2,000, including those killed on the road to Chad. Amid this violence, at least 8,000 people sought refuge in Chad, joining the already massive population of 450,000, predominantly women and children, displaced by earlier attacks in West Darfur.

Survivors who fled to Chad reported a spree of killings, shelling, unlawful detentions, sexual violence, ill-treatment, and looting. The Rapid Support Forces, led by deputy commander Abdel Raheem Hamdan Dagalo and West Darfur Commander General Abdel Rahman Joma’a, showcased their brutality in videos posted on social media, including one where they detained over 200 men and boys in Ardamata.

Satellite imagery captured the aftermath of the violence, revealing the impact of shelling on civilian and military infrastructure, as well as potential new graves and bodies in the streets. This latest episode follows earlier waves of assaults by the Rapid Support Forces against Massalit neighbourhoods, resulting in mass displacements and widespread human rights abuses.

The UN Security Council faces a critical juncture with the pending closure of the UN mission in Sudan. HRW urges the council to consider strengthening the UN's presence to prevent further atrocities, support monitoring of human rights abuses, and expand the arms embargo to cover the entire country and all parties involved in the conflict.

Under international law, deliberate attacks on civilian populations and extrajudicial killings constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity. The urgency for international intervention is underscored by the gravity of the situation, with the Rapid Support Forces and their allies continuing their assaults on civilians and targeting prominent community members.

As the world watches the unfolding crisis, there are calls for a comprehensive response. The UN Security Council should organize a visit to eastern Chad to meet with survivors, imposing targeted sanctions on key commanders involved in the attacks. The international community, including the United Kingdom, European Union, African Union, and concerned governments, should also support the ongoing International Criminal Court investigation into crimes in Darfur.

The situation is further complicated by Sudan's request to end the UN's mandate in the country, replacing it with a special envoy, potentially reducing UN scrutiny. In response, HRW emphasizes the need for the Security Council and other stakeholders to explore all options to prevent further atrocities and protect civilian populations.

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