The Hague, Netherlands. May 18, 2023 – Warring parties in Sudan have failed to demonstrate their willingness to protect civilians as fighting continues despite an agreement signed in Jeddah last week. The conduct of the two parties to the conflict stands against the ‘declaration of commitment to protect the civilians of Sudan’ and is already causing further harm to innocent individuals and families in Khartoum, Darfur, and other cities, warns Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC).
“The agreement signed in Jeddah has yet to be translated into real action by the warring factions. So far, they have failed to adhere to their commitments,” says Will Meeker, CIVIC’s Africa Director. “Instead, fighting is reported to have intensified, which inevitably leads to harm to civilians. Parties to the conflict have failed to meet their obligation to protect civilians consistent with international law.”
CIVIC calls on parties to the conflict to adhere to the Jeddah Declaration of Commitment to Protect the Civilians of Sudan without delay. CIVIC also calls on the international mediators and the warring factions to agree on a ceasefire along with a monitoring mechanism to ensure compliance and accountability. Explosive weapons with wide area effects, including airstrikes, have been extensively used in Khartoum, harming civilians and causing significant damage or destruction to civilian infrastructure. Parties to the conflict should refrain from using such weapons in populated areas.
“After losing two uncles and an aunt in the second week of the fighting in Khartoum, my family and I have now lost all we had, including family heirlooms handed down for generations as members of the armed groups continue to loot,” says Sudan-born and CIVIC’s Country Director in Yemen, Dina El-Mamoun. “We have been robbed of our loved ones, our family history and identity.”
Civilians in Darfur also face serious struggles. In El Geneina, the capital of West Darfur, armed groups have killed civilians, looted health care facilities, attacked humanitarian groups, and burned refugee camps.
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
- Hajer Naili, Director of Communications, hnaili@civiliansinconflict.org, +31.6.21.69.68.86 / +1 917 889 5982 (WhatsApp)
- CIVIC’s global media team: comms@civiliansinconflict.org
