Urgent Call for Action to Prevent Genocide in Darfur

The ongoing civil war in Sudan has killed more than 10,000 people and displaced nearly six million from their homes. One of the most relentless wars in the world is taking place in a country where half the population, more than twenty-five million people, require humanitarian assistance, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) which faces a funding gap of nearly $2 billion. The humanitarian needs are impossible to meet even under the best of peacetime circumstances, let alone an escalating war. In the White Nile state alone, the site of more than 700,000 displaced persons, at least four children die every week. A high-ranking UN official recently described the violence as having “turned previously peaceful Sudanese homes into cemeteries.” The risk of imminent genocidal mass killing is now approaching a point of no return as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the paramilitary group in conflict with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), is on the verge of taking over the entire Darfur region after capturing four of its five states. UN experts have documented RSF’s “brutal and widespread use of rape and other forms of sexual violence” and identified women and girls held in chains in “slave-like conditions” under RSF control in Darfur. Survivors attest to a systematic pattern of incitement to violence  within RSF ranks through persistent dehumanization directed at members of non-Arab ethnic groups, including use of the terms “slave,” “dirt” and, as one survivor recounted hearing from her RSF captor: “To us you all are slaves.” The evidence of persecution and killings based on ethnicity is well established.

Crimes Against Humanity and Imminent Risk of  Genocide:

In recent weeks, the RSF has become increasingly brazen in its attacks and brutality against civilians, particularly targeting the Masalit ethnic group directly. Earlier this month, in just six days, RSF forces terrorized an IDP camp in Ardamata, a site thought to be a place of refuge from prior attacks, massacring hundreds and enslaving members of the Masalit. This follows the RSF unleashing the same horrors on El Geneina earlier this year, leaving hastily dug mass graves for members of the Masalit community. According to survivors of these massacres, the RSF and its militiamen singled out Masalit for execution and further hunted down prominent leaders of the community – a marker of intent to destroy a group in part, according to international jurisprudence.  In recent months, international observers have documented the RSF’s campaign of widespread and systematic attacks against civilians and deliberate targeting of non-Arab ethnic groups for mass killing, enslavement, sexual violence, and torture. There is now an imminent risk the RSF will continue committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in El Fasher, where the number of victims at risk is even more catastrophic and where hundreds of thousands are sheltering with no safe passage out. With no more realistic safe havens left, non-Arab ethnic groups in El Fasher are the most unprotected, at risk, and vulnerable IDP population in Darfur.

Despite the ceasefire talks in Jeddah, the RSF continued its systematic attacks on civilians across Darfur. The risk of genocide and crimes against humanity against non-Arab communities is imminent, based on RSF’s modus operandi and the scale of destruction left in its tracks in recent months. The international community has long been aware of the RSF’s capacity and propensity to commit massacres with impunity. RSF leader Hemeti was a commander of the very Janjaweed militias responsible for the worst violence of the mass atrocities tracing back to 2003. Those horrors mobilized a vigorous worldwide international campaign and even led to the issuance of charges of genocide by the International Criminal Court. Just like in West, Central and South Darfur, the people of North Darfur are now facing the same risk of targeted ethnic violence less than a generation later. The unimaginable has become possible again. This time, no one can say we did not know.

This call to action is even more urgent in an international media environment predominantly focused on the Middle East, drowning out the exposure that is necessary to protect populations at immediate risk in Darfur. Under international law, there is a duty to act and prevent genocide as soon as the serious risk is known. That threshold has been crossed. That duty has been triggered. We now know, and must act.

The RSF is backed by Wagner, the Russian mercenary group, Libyan warlord Khalifa Hafter, and the UAE, which is smuggling arms to the RSF through third party countries.

Recommendations: 

As leading experts on Sudan, international law, and atrocity prevention, scholars, and human rights advocates, we call on the international community to:

1. Provide safe passage to civilians seeking to flee war zones and areas at risk;
2. Bridge the glaring gaps in humanitarian relief and funding to ensure needs are met and effective response is possible in Sudan;
3. Cut off all RSF sources of funding and support, including from the UAE and other actors, through a concerted campaign of economic, political, and diplomatic pressure, such as arms embargoes, trade restrictions, sanctions, etc. on the RSF and its enablers;
4. Impose targeted sanctions on every individual and entity involved in the recent mass atrocity crimes in West Darfur, South Darfur, Central Darfur, and North Darfur, including facilitators, enablers, and financiers;
5. Press UAE leaders and other regional actors to cease their support of the RSF and SAF. Instead, the warring parties should be pressured to reach a negotiated resolution of the conflict;
6. Expedite the deployment of a UN-mandated international fact-finding mission for Sudan whose monitoring presence will also deter impending crimes and protect civilians; 
7. Reinforce the International Criminal Court investigations and urge the issuance of arrest warrants against RSF senior commanders responsible for ethnic killings, forcible displacement, conflict-related sexual violence, and other crimes; 
8. Prioritize the situation in Darfur as a matter requiring urgent attention to protect civilians and prevent further atrocities; 
9. Call for the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development to take more proactive measures to advance a ceasefire and prevent further atrocities.

These steps will not only advance justice and accountability, but also serve to protect civilians, prevent future atrocities, and signal a message of hope to the victims and their families.

The RSF’s takeover of the three main capitals in Darfur leaves the majority of civilians in Darfur under RSF effective control – an entirely untenable security situation. The RSF has deliberately targeted civilians in the region for two decades and has directed unspeakable mass atrocities and vicious attacks targeting ethnic groups in the process of capturing Darfur. 

The serious and imminent risk of genocide and crimes against humanity demands immediate action to protect civilians and vulnerable groups at greatest risk in Darfur before it is too late.

Signed:

1. Mutasim Ali, Legal Advisor, Raoul Wallenberg Center for Human Rights
2. Hon. Irwin Cotler, Chair, Raoul Wallenberg Center for Human Rights, former Justice Minister of Canada
3. Yonah Diamond, Human Rights Lawyer, Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights
4. Gila Cotler, CEO, Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights
5. Samah Salman, President, US-Educated Sudanese Association
6. John Prendergast, Co-Founder, The Sentry
7. Luis Moreno Ocampo, First Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court
8. Dr Melanie O’Brien, Visiting Professor, Center for Holocaust & Genocide Studies, University of Minnesota; President, International Association of Genocide Scholars
9. Dr. Gerald Mahima
10. Jeremy Konyndyk, President, Refugees International
11. Maxim Pensky, Co-Director, Institute for Genocide and Mass Atrocity Prevention (I-GMAP); Professor of Philosophy, Binghamton University
12. Alex DeWaal, Executive Director, World Peace Foundation
13. John Cox, professor of Global Studies and History, directs the Center for Holocaust, Genocide & Human Rights Studies
14. Professor Jennifer Trahan, NYU Center for Global Affairs
15. Emily Prey, Director Gender Policy Portfolio, New Lines Institute
16. Dr Azeem Ibrahim OBE
17. Rabbi Jill Jacobs, CEO, T'ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights
18. Rayhan Asat, Human Rights Lawyer
19. Kenneth Roth, former executive director, Human Rights Watch (1993-2022); visiting professor, Princeton School of Public and International Affairs
20. Eric Reeves, Trustee, Darfur Bar Association
21. Amb. Kelley Currie, human rights lawyer; US Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues (2019 - 2021); US Representative to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (2017 - 2019)
22. John Packer, Professor of International Conflict Resolution; Director, Human Rights Research and Education Centre at the University of Ottawa, Faculty of Law
23. David M. Crane (SES, Ret.), Founding Chief Prosecutor UN Special Court for Sierra Leone
24. Annick Pijnenburg, Assistant Professor, Radboud University Nijmegen
25. Kyle Matthews, Executive Director Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies
26. Marie Lamensch, Program and outreach coordinator - Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies (MIGS)
27. Steven Alan Carr, Director, The Institute for Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Purdue University Fort Wayne
28. Ewelina U. Ochab, IBAHRI Programme Lawyer; Co-founder of the Coalition for Genocide Response
29. Dr Simon Adams, President and CEO, Center for Victims of Torture
30.  Rafal Pankowski, Professor at Collegium Civitas, Warsaw; co-founder of 'NEVER AGAIN' Association
31. Vadim Atnashev, Fulbright Visiting Scholar, Clark University
32.  Kristina Hook, assistant professor of conflict management at Kennesaw State University
33. Allan Rock, President Emeritus and Professor of Law, University of Ottawa; former Canadian Ambassador to the UN 
34. Dr. Stacey M. Mitchell, Associate professor of Political Science at at Georgia State University's Perimeter College
35. Alex Neve, Senior Fellow, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, University of Ottawa
36. Dr Yvonne Breitwieser-Faria, Sessional Lecturer, The University of Queensland 
37. Dr. Hazhar Omer, University Lecturer
38. Paul Slovic, Professor, University of Oregon
39. Henry Theriault, Co-Editor, Genocide Studies International, and Assoc. VP for Acad. Affairs, Worcester State University
40. Adam Keith, former Director for War Crimes and Atrocity Prevention, U.S. National Security Council staff
41. Audrey Macklin, professor of law and chair in human rights, University of Toronto
42. Dr Deborah Mayersen, University of New South Wales Canberra at the Australian Defence Force Academy
43. Dr. Paul Morrow, University of Dayton Human Rights Center
44. Jean-Philippe Belleau, Associate professor, UMass Boston
45. Mike Brand, Adjunct Professor of genocide studies and human rights at the University of Connecticut
46. James Silk, Binger Clinical Professor of Human Rights, Yale Law School
47. Dr. Ibrahim Sadiq Malazada, Genocide and Middle Eastern studies, Sociology Department, Soran University, Kurdistan Region (Southern Kurdistan)
48. Joachim Savelsberg, Professor of Sociology and Law, University of Minnesota
49. Barry Trachtenberg, Rubin Presidential Chair of Jewish History, Wake Forest University
50. (Dr) Susan M. Kenyon, Anthropologist and Professor Emerita, Butler University
51. Simon Kenyon, Emeritus Professor, Purdue University and former Veterinary Officer, S. Darfur
52. Abdulrahman Darwesh, Associate Professor in Multiculturalism and Genocide studies
53. Awad Ibrahim, Air Canada Professor in Anti-racism, U. of Ottawa, Canada
54. Errol Mendes, Professor, University of Ottawa
55. Jeff Bachman, Associate Professor, American University, USA
56. James Yap, President, Canadian Lawyers for International Human Rights
57. Ali Al bayati, CEO of Defenders for Human Rights
58. Ismail Adam, Darfur Diaspora Association
59. Dr. Kon Madut, Part time Professor, University of Ottawa, Faculty of Social Science
60. Dr. Stacey M. Mitchell, Associate professor of Political Science at at Georgia State University's Perimeter College 
61. Dr. Joe Delap, Professor of History, Athens State University 
62. Adam Jones, Professor, Political Science, University of British Columbia Okanagan 
63. Dr. phil. Tessa Hofmann, Genocide and Armenian studies, formerly Freie Universität Berlin
64. Dr. Dalsooz J. Hussein. Teacher at the Faculty of Law, Political Science and Management at Soran University
65. Dr. Sandra Gruner Domic, Anthropologist and independent Fulbright scholar 2023
66. Dr. Nélida Boulgourdjian, University of Tres de Febrero Febrero
67. Dr Caroline Bennett, School of Global Studies, University of Sussex, UK
68. Don Cummings, Holocaust and Genocide Studies, Professional Educator, Worcester (MA) Public Schools, USA
69. Alison Avery, PhD Candidate at the Strassler Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies, Clark University
70. Andrew Woolford, Department Head and Professor, Sociology & Criminology, University of Manitoba
71. Guy Josif, an International Human Rights Law-focused Student, at Georgetown University
72. Dr. Adam Muller, Director, Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Manitoba
73. Dr Eyal Mayroz, Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Sydney
74. Yifat Susskind, MADRE Executive Director
75. Dr Vicky Kapogianni
76. Sabah Mofidi, researcher, University of Amsterdam
77. Hrag Yacoubian, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Nursing, Memorial University of Newfoundland
78. Victor Bivell, Publisher, Pollitecon Publications
79. Simone Hanchet, Director of Communications, Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights
80. Ella Johnson, Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights, Bruce Kent Memorial Intern
81. Kimberly Lenz, Program Coordinator, Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights
82. Aaza Mohamed Ahmed Hassan, Human Rights Lawyer, and Gender Advocate
83. Kjell Anderson, Director, Master of Human Rights Program, University of Manitoba
84. Rania Hassan Hassballa Ali, Darfur Women Gathering
85. Dr. Emily Sample, The Fund for Peace
86. Dr. Saghar Shahidi-Brjandian
87. Lloyd Axworthy, Chair, World Refugee & Migration Council; Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada
88. Augustine Caesar Nyero, Masters of Human Rights student, University  of Manitoba
89. Ernesto Verdeja, Associate Professor of Peace Studies and Global Politics, University of Notre Dame
90. Dr. Samantha J. Lakin, Lecturer in Conflict Resolution, UMass Boston
91. Dr. Hollie Nyseth Nzitatira, Associate Professor of Sociology at Ohio State University
92. Sandrine Mugenga Irankunda, PhD Student at the School of Advanced International Studies | Africa Studies, Johns Hopkins University 
93. Raz Segal, Associate Professor of Holocaust and Genocide Studies, Stockton University
94. Abdelhafiz Mustafa Musa, Deputy Lab Manager - Blood Sciences (Swindon, UK) 
95. Prof Avril Alba
96. Ahmed Abdelshafi Toba Bassy, Development Practitioner and Political Activist
97. Abdelrahim Abulbasher, Faculty, Qatar University
98. George Foden, Doctoral Researcher at Loughborough University 
99. Sawsan Hassan Elshowaya Human Rights & Women Rights Defender, Development Consultant
100. Niemat Kuku Mohamed
101. Christopher Atwood