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Regional Implications of Sudanese War Concern for Christian Human Rights Group

Credit: CSW

Violence in Sudan may escalate regionally and internationally with entry of other countries supporting the country’s warring parties, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) has said.

According to CSW, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) already enjoyed support from outsiders even before they went to war that erupted on April 15.

In a Thursday, April 27 report, the UK-based human rights foundation says that there are “fears the fighting may degenerate into a lengthy conflict with wider regional and international implications.”

“Egypt has supported the Sudanese military since the fall of former president al Bashir in 2019, while the RSF leader has ties with the Russian Wagner Group, Libyan General Haftar, and the United Arab Emirates,” CSW says.

Innocent civilians continue to bear the brunt of the violence between SAF that is headed by General Abdel Fattah al Burhan, who led the coup against the transitional government in October 2021, and General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo of the RSF

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The fighting erupted as the forces were due to merge in line with an internationally supported framework agreement on a transition to democracy.

According to the Sudanese Doctors Syndicate, 291 civilians had lost their lives, including five humanitarian aid workers, and 1,699 were wounded as of April 24.

CSW has reported that fighting continues in residential areas, including aerial bombardment, amid reports of home invasions by armed men seeking to use rooftops as vantage points. 

Severe violations targeting civilians have been reported in cities in Central, North, South and West Darfur, Khartoum, Northern State, and North Kordofan State. 

There have also been consistent reports of medical facilities being targeted by both warring parties, of attacks on medical personnel, and of shortages of food, water and essential medications.

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CSW’s CEO Scot Bower has appealed to Sudan’s neighboring countries to support those fleeing from violent scenes in their country.

“While cognisant of security concerns, we nonetheless appeal to Sudan’s neighbors to respond to those in search of sanctuary in accordance with the stipulations of the African Refugee Convention and in the spirit of Pan-Africanism, and to seek additional assistance from the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Red Crescent or Red Cross if and when this is needed,” Mr. Bower says.

CSW further calls on the international community to maintain close scrutiny on the situation of Sudanese citizens even as various countries work towards evacuating their citizens from the embattled country.

Further, the Christian human rights foundation has called on the international community to ensure that perpetrators of violations targeting civilians in Sudan are held to account.

Mr. Bower suggests that the international community convenes a special HRC session “as a matter of urgency”, and mandates an investigative and accountability mechanism for Sudan. 

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“The warring parties must be advised in no uncertain terms of their responsibility to protect all non-combatants, including refugees, and that identified perpetrators will be held accountable for their violations,” the CSW official says.

He adds, “We also call for the formulation of a comprehensive arms embargo to prevent the prolongation and possible regionalisation of this conflict.”

Agnes Aineah is a Kenyan journalist with a background in digital and newspaper reporting. She holds a Master of Arts in Digital Journalism from the Aga Khan University, Graduate School of Media and Communications and a Bachelor's Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communications from Kenya's Moi University. Agnes currently serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.