- According to a report by a UN human rights Rapporteur, both militia forces and regular troops of Sudan's government are responsible for the grave atrocities committed in Darfur. Government troops had assisted in the mass executions of civilians in a campaign that has been described as ethnic cleansing.
Khartoum government forces and their proxy Janjaweed militias have slaughtered civilians in villages in the Darfur region of western Sudan, a UN human rights expert said yesterday after completing a 13-day tour of Sudan. Asma Jahangir, the UN's human rights Special Rapporteur, told a press briefing in Khartoum that she was "disturbed and alarmed by the gravity of the human rights abuses perpetrated" in Darfur.
In addition to the atrocities in Darfur, Ms Jahangir said she had also had received reports of mass killings by government-sponsored militias in the Malakal region of southern Sudan.
Her greatest concerns were however saved for Darfur, where two rebel groups have been fighting the Sudanese government since early last year and aid agencies say a humanitarian crisis is unfolding. UN agencies and relief organisations estimate that at least one million people have fled their homes and become internally displaced since fighting broke out, while another 150,000 refugees have escaped across the border into Chad.
- I am deeply concerned, Ms Jahangir said. "The crisis is not over and the right to life of [millions of] people is seriously threatened," she added at the Khartoum press conference.
A report by the UN's High Commissioner for Human Rights, issued last month, found that Janjaweed militias – loose bands of "Arab" fighters that were recruited and armed by Khartoum – have carried out murders, rapes and other atrocities against the region's black African population. Ms Jahangir's briefing echoed many elements of that report.
During her inspection tour, Ms Jahangir said she received credible information that members of Sudan's armed forces, the Popular Defence Forces and the government-sponsored militias had "attacked villages and summarily executed civilians."
She said she had been unable to verify reports of the location of some mass graves because it was not safe to travel to certain areas within Darfur or they were too far away to reach during her visit.
But Ms Jahangir said "there is no ambiguity that there is a link between some of the militias and government forces." She also said that many militias are being integrated into the country's regular armed forces. The Rapporteur added that "armed criminal elements" have taken advantage of the conflict in Darfur to cause "some loss of life."
The Sudanese government and the rebel groups reached a ceasefire deal in April, but aid workers say refugees arriving in Chad have told them of continuing attacks by the Janjaweed militias. Calls by the international community for the Khartoum government to disarm the militias have so far not been lived up to.
Ms Jahangir further said she was concerned that some people had been sentenced to capital punishment for crimes committed before they had turned 18 - breaching international standards and Sudanese law. "I will be urging the government to conduct an inquiry and ensure that [the] death penalty is not imposed on minors," she said.
Calling on the Sudanese government to "end the culture of impunity" towards human rights abuses, Ms Jahangir said its National Commission of Inquiry into what is happening in Darfur must examine the reports of violations by the armed forces. Ms Jahangir is to issue a formal report to the UN about the situation in Sudan after she visits Nairobi and Cairo to collect more information.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.
front page
| news
| countries
| archive
| currencies
| news alerts login
| about afrol News
| contact
| advertise
| español