The United Nations Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Alice Wairimu Nderitu, continues to raise alarm at reports of the horrific attacks in Sudan, particularly those carried out by the Sudanese paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on a village in Gezira State on 5 June, resulting in the tragic loss of at least 100 lives, as reported by local activists and the media. This attack increases the risk factors and indicators for genocide and related crimes (war crimes and crimes against humanity) in Sudan.

The Special Adviser condemns this brutal act and calls for a thorough and impartial investigation to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice. “Violence continues. Suffering continues. There is no end in sight. All possible prevention efforts must be taken. Accountability remains central for this. Perpetrators of this and all other attacks must be held accountable for their actions. I urge all parties involved to prioritize the protection of civilians and adhere to international human rights and humanitarian law. They have committed to this with the Jeddah Declaration of Commitment to Protect the Civilians. They have the obligation to do this under international human rights and international humanitarian law. They continue negating their international obligations and their own word.”

Special Adviser Nderitu reiterated the concerns expressed in her past statements of 05 June 2024, 15 April 2024, 21 December 2023, 14 November 2023, 5 September 2023, 13 June 2023, 3 November 2022 and 8 September 2022, as well as in her briefing to the UN Security Council on 21 May 2024. “It is unquestionable that risk factors and indicators for genocide and related crimes (war crimes and crimes against humanity) are present, and the risks are increasing. The warring parties must, immediately, explicitly and with no space for ambiguity, call for the protection of all civilian populations and respect their international obligations and their own word without delay. The international community must accelerate all possible efforts to protect the population of Sudan and end this crisis urgently,” the Special Adviser reiterated.