The UN-appointed expert by the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr. Radhouane Nouicer, has issued a stark warning about the worsening humanitarian and human rights crisis in Sudan, stating the country is heading toward a \u201cfull-blown humanitarian catastrophe\u201d amid escalating armed conflict between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), and the deepening suffering of civilians\u2014especially women, children, and people with disabilities.<\/p>\n
Nouicer\u2019s remarks came at the conclusion of his second visit to Sudan since the war broke out in April 2023. During his five-day stay in Port Sudan, he held wide-ranging meetings with government officials, civil society representatives, humanitarian partners, and the national human rights commission.<\/p>\n
Mass Displacement and Harrowing Testimonies<\/strong><\/p>\n Nouicer visited a site hosting internally displaced persons (IDPs), including women-led families from Khartoum and Darfur, where he received firsthand testimonies of dire living conditions. He reported a severe lack of food, water, and healthcare, all under soaring temperatures and in the absence of humanitarian aid\u2014which has been suspended for months due to funding shortages. He warned that the rainy season could \u201cturn a tragic situation into a catastrophe.\u201d<\/p>\n Systematic Violations and Fears of War Crimes<\/strong><\/p>\n Describing the escalation of violence in North Darfur and Kordofan as \u201calarming,\u201d the UN expert accused the RSF of committing grave violations, including the targeting of civilians, indiscriminate destruction of infrastructure, rape, and forced displacement\u2014particularly in El Fasher and the Abu Shouk camp, which has suffered repeated attacks in recent months.<\/p>\n He also cited over 390 documented cases of sexual violence since the conflict began\u2014mostly attributed to the RSF\u2014and warned that the actual number is likely much higher due to stigma and fear of retaliation. Nevertheless, he welcomed the Sudanese authorities’ signing of a cooperation framework with the UN to address such crimes.<\/p>\n Sudanese Army Also Under Scrutiny<\/strong><\/p>\n Nouicer did not spare the Sudanese Armed Forces from criticism, voicing concern over airstrikes targeting civilian neighborhoods in Darfur and Kordofan. He emphasized the need to uphold international humanitarian law and to strictly distinguish between military and civilian targets.<\/p>\n Impunity and Politically Motivated Prosecutions<\/strong><\/p>\n The expert raised alarm over reports of \u201carbitrary detentions and harsh sentences,\u201d including death penalties issued against individuals accused of \u201ccollaborating\u201d with the RSF, stressing that these pose a serious threat to justice\u2014especially in the absence of fair trial guarantees. He called for these sentences to be reviewed and for executions to be halted.<\/p>\n In a notable development, Sudan\u2019s Attorney General revealed that over 120,000 cases have been opened, including more than 300 against members of the security forces\u2014with some immunities lifted. Nouicer welcomed the move as a \u201cpositive step.\u201d<\/p>\n Crackdown on Civil Society and Stalled Reforms<\/strong><\/p>\n The report highlighted the shrinking space for civil society, with continued harassment and arrests of human rights defenders. Nouicer warned that this threatens political resolution efforts. He also expressed regret over the suspension of emergency law reform initiatives, urging the activation of the committee assigned to review them.<\/p>\n Adr\u00e9 Border Crossing and Famine Risk<\/strong><\/p>\n Nouicer called for the Adr\u00e9 border crossing between Chad and Sudan to remain open beyond August 15, describing it as a \u201clifeline\u201d for humanitarian aid. He voiced deep concern over the obstruction of aid deliveries to hard-hit areas like El Fasher and Kordofan, where reports confirm the presence of famine in some locations\u2014with warnings of its spread.<\/p>\n Deepening Economic Collapse<\/strong><\/p>\n The statement revealed an unprecedented economic collapse, with the exchange rate surpassing 2,500 Sudanese pounds per US dollar\u2014compared to 500 pounds before the war. Prices of essential goods such as food, fuel, and medicine have skyrocketed, exacerbating the suffering of millions.<\/p>\n A Message to the Government and the International Community<\/strong><\/p>\n Nouicer praised the appointment of a new civilian Prime Minister and expressed hope for the formation of an inclusive technocratic government that reconnects the people with state institutions. He called for broad consultations that include women and civil society, stressing that \u201cwar will not solve the crisis, and peace and dialogue are the only path to saving Sudan.\u201d<\/p>\n He urged the international community to move beyond passive observation and to take swift action to enforce the arms embargo, support local mediation efforts, and ensure unhindered humanitarian access.<\/p>\n Closing Statement: An Urgent Call for Political Resolution<\/strong><\/p>\n Nouicer concluded his statement with a plea: every passing day \u201cmeans more victims, further disintegration of society, and traumas that will last for generations.\u201d He reiterated his call for an immediate ceasefire, prioritization of the national interest, and the building of a future grounded in reconciliation and respect for human rights.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The UN-appointed expert by the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr. Radhouane Nouicer, has issued a stark warning about the worsening humanitarian and human rights crisis in Sudan, stating the country is heading toward a \u201cfull-blown humanitarian catastrophe\u201d amid escalating armed conflict between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), and the deepening suffering …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":52455,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15,25],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-52454","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-local","category-news-2"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sudanevents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52454","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sudanevents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sudanevents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sudanevents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sudanevents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=52454"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/sudanevents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52454\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":52456,"href":"https:\/\/sudanevents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52454\/revisions\/52456"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sudanevents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/52455"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sudanevents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=52454"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sudanevents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=52454"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sudanevents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=52454"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}