- Rwandan UNMIS troops in Sudan, July 2005; Source: http://www.dod.gov/home/photoessays/2005-07/p20050722a2.html
The violations committed during the conflict which broke out on 5 June include aerial bombardements, torture, deliberate targeting of dark-skinned people, forced displacements, arbitrary arrests and summary executions. The violent campaign by the SAF is believed to be part of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir’s plan to suppress ethnic and cultural diversity in favour of an Arabic-Islamic regime.
The report also emphasises the active obstruction of the work of the UNMIS by state authorities. Due to these obstructions the UNMIS was unable to fulfil the most basic requirements of its mandate. UNMIS officials are quoted to have said that they have been “deaf and blind” ever since the conflict broke out. According to UN undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs, Valerie Amos, 1.4 million people were affected by the war.
Recommendations in the UN report urge the Security Council to launch a thorough investigation into the committed human rights violations and to refer the case to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.
Guardian: UN mission accuses Sudan of shelling and torturing civilians in Nuba war
Sudan Tribune: UN report incriminates Sudan army’s acts in South Kordofan, calls for ICC probe
