Sudan

Women's group calls for ICC probe into SGBV cases in Sudan's Al-Fashir

A view of a street in the city of Omdurman damaged in the year-long civil war in Sudan, April 7, 2024. Residents in the city have found themselves besieged in their homes, trapped between the paramilitary RSF and the army. (Photo: El Tayeb Siddig/Reuters)

By Bashir Mohammed | Saturday, May 25, 2024

The Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA) has made this call, noting that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) "has been waging a constant siege on the city" since May 11.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) should investigate and prosecute Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for cases of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in Al Fashir in North Darfur, a women's group has said.

The Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA) made this call in a statement on May 24, noting that the RSF "has been waging a constant siege on the city" since May 11.

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"This siege has been marked by an increase in killings, sexual violence, theft, destruction of infrastructure, and looting. There have also been aerial bombardments on several villages and areas of Al Fashir, and eight villages to the west of Al Fashir were recently burned."

The security situation in North Darfur State, particularly around Al Fashir, has deteriorated significantly, and children and hospitals have not been spared.

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has bombed the Babiker Nahar Centre Children's Hospital and a paediatric hospital, and violence is threatening to close the Saudi Obstetrics & Gynaecology Hospital.

"We call on the International Criminal Court to investigate and prosecute the crimes of SGBV and the other human rights violations and acts of criminal retaliation being committed by the RSF against women, girls, and the civilian population throughout this conflict," SIHA said.

The siege has led to a severe scarcity of food and essential goods like fuel, intensifying the humanitarian crisis, and the suspension of humanitarian and commercial convoys from neighbouring countries and other parts of Sudan has exacerbated the situation.

SIHA has called on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and the African Union (AU) to take concrete steps to protect civilians, particularly women targeted by the paramilitary force.

"We urge recognition of SGBV as a primary threat and the allocation of resources to establish one-stop centres and at least one obstetric fistula hospital," said SIHA.

The organisation also emphasised the need for international and regional actors to investigate war crimes committed against civilians in Sudan and hold the warring parties accountable.

"We stress the need for the UN Security Council to renew and fully enforce the arms embargo on Darfur, punishing all violators, including state actors involved in perpetuating genocide," it said in the statement.

The situation in Al Fashir is a stark reminder of the urgent need for international action to protect civilians and hold perpetrators of atrocities accountable.

RSF shelling and arson have caught over 400,000 residents in the Abu Shouk IDP camp, causing many to lose their homes. The southern parts of the region are undergoing mass displacement, with civilians suffering from hunger and a lack of access to essential services.