UN warns against retaliatory attacks of Sudan civilians

The United Nations warned on January 15th of retaliatory attacks on civilians in the El Gezira state of Sudan, stressing that the reports raised “grave concerns” concerning “flagrant violations” of international law, The New Arab and agencies reported.

Since April 2023, Sudan’s army has been in conflict with rival paramilitaries. This week the army recaptured the state capital of Wad Madani from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Rights groups have said that militias which are allied with the army have led ethnically-targeted attacks on minority groups within the agricultural state, causing the deaths of at least 13 including two children.

Clementine Nkweta-Salami, the UN’s resident and humanitarian coordinator in Sudan, said: “reprisals and acts of violence against civilian populations and civilian objects are prohibited by international humanitarian law.”

The New Arab and agencies