Archives: Statements

 

 

Darfur Women Action Group is extremely alarmed by the disturbing  news coming out from El Fasher, North Darfur. We are reaching out to you with an urgent appeal to seek your support to call on the US government and the United Nations Security Council to take serious action to protect civilians and avert the unfolding and deadly mass atrocities that are currently underway in El Fasher, North Darfur.

 

From the latest information on the ground, we just got the news that there is a huge mobilization among Arab tribes affiliated to the RSF  to circle El Fasher and also mobilization from those rebel groups sided with SAF and interborder tribes from Chad and other parts of Darfur. There is already a blockade of fuel coming into the city and there are no water tankers operating to supply water for the large numbers of the Internal Displaced Person(IDP). The limited commercial food supply that used to come from Libya or Chad is now blocked from reaching those in need, isolating civilians from all survival means. People are already dying and all indicators point out the fact that the RSF is preparing for a new decisive attack on El Fasher and try to wipe out not only the SAF forces and the existence of African tribes who sought refuge there. The situation in El Fasher, if allowed, will be beyond any one can imagine. 

 

The city of El Fasher is currently housing over 2.8 civilians, most of whom have been displaced 20 years ago during the Darfur Genocide. With the start of the war last April in Sudan, the capital city of North Darfur has received hundreds of thousands of Internally displaced People(IDP). Most of them have to reside without proper shelters by living in schools, shade of trees and makeshift camps. El Fasher now is the only IDP haven left in the entire Darfur region, an area the size of France, and is now  facing a new round of brutal attacks and confrontation between the SAF and RSF, who are actively  mobilizing fighters in an effort to take over and have full control of the city. The imminent fights will endanger the lives of thousands of innocent civilians. 

 

In the last several weeks the city and its surrounding areas have witnessed a campaign of terror. Just last week the RSF, in an attempt to enter El Fasher, burned about 10 neighboring villages and left thousands without food, shelter or any other humanitarian assistance. During the month of Ramadan, the UNSC tried to call a ceasefire, urged the parties to respect the resolution, and to allow humanitarian aid reach those in need. However, neither party stopped fighting, instead the fighting sharply intensified. While the RSF is attacking, looting properties  and burning villages. SAF is launching airstrikes mostly targeting civilian homes,  public services and civilian infrastructure. Their negligence of their responsibility to protection imposed untold suffering and forced Darfuri people to die in silence .

 

Despite the many ceasefire declarations the warring parties in Sudan have yet to stop the killing or allow humanitarian aid to reach those in need. In doing so they are violating international human rights and humanitarian law, with total disregard to human life, for which the UNSC must hold them into account. Particularly, the RSF is intensifying its targeting on civilians everyday. Between March 31 and April 15, 2024, at least nine communities west of El Fasher have been razed by apparent arson attacks. Moreover, Since April 15, 2023, the RSF and aligned forces continue to commit widespread, systematic, and targeted attacks on civilian communities across Darfur, specifically targeting black African Masalit, Fur, Zaghawa communities. The paramilitary group, which evolves from the Janjaweed force that was mainly responsible for the carrying out  the genocide in Darfur two decades ago, due to impunity and inaction from the international community, has been emboldened, as they does not shy from their true motive in raging this war, that they want to cleanse the inferior seeds of indigenous Africans from the Darfur area. The attacks that target villages around El Fasher have resulted in an estimated of over  40, 000 newly displaced civilians to the city. If these escalating attacks  are allowed to take place, it will be a repeat of the mass murder that took place in El Geneina, West Darfur last November where over 10000 Masalit and other indigenous Africans were massacred.

 

Therefore, we call on the international community to take immediate actions. 

• We urgently call on the United States, African Union and the United Nations Security Council to immediately authorize civilian protection forces to protect the vulnerable displaced people who are suffering from hunger and malnutrition.
• The United States, the UNSC members, the African Union and  all other regional powers, have the responsibility to hold those who violate the international human rights and humanitarian laws into account.
• The US, the UNSC and the AU must support unhindered access and delivery of humanitarian aid to people in need with or without the persimmon of the warring parties. 

 

In the face of genocide and mass atrocities we must tell our leaders not turn a blind eye to the slaughter. They must  take collective actions to address the worst humanitarian crisis in human history, hold those responsible accountable  and bring peace and justice to the suffering people of Darfur and Sudan. 

 

Please join our voice to call on the US, the UNSC and African Union  to take swift action.

 

Only with our collective effort can we make a difference.

 

Thank you for standing up and speaking up for the people of Sudan

 

Sincerly,

Niemat Ahmadi and DWAG Team

 

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Statement by Ms. Niemat Ahmadi

UN Security Council Open Debate on Conflict-Related Sexual Violence

23 April 2024

 

President, Excellencies, civil society colleagues, 

Thank you for the opportunity to address the Security Council today on conflict-related sexual violence. My name is Niemat Ahmadi, and I am the president and founder of Darfur Women Action Group. As a survivor of the Darfur genocide, I founded this organization in 2009 to empower survivors, both in Sudan and in the diaspora, and to prevent future atrocities. 

Today, I would like to recognize the resilience of the women of Sudan—their stories of unspeakable suffering are only surpassed by accounts of their courage and determination. 

It has been more than one year since Sudan was engulfed in vicious violence. While the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are still occupying and looting civilian homes, using sexual violence, including rape and sexual slavery, as a tactic of war, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) are launching heavy artillery shelling, air strikes, and indiscriminate attacks mainly targeting civilian homes, markets, bridges, essential public services, and evacuation routes with no respect for human life. The cycle of violence in Sudan exhibits a total disregard for international law, and may amount to war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. 

The conflict has so far killed between 10,000 to 15,000 people in El Geneina alone, left over 10 million displaced, and condemned 18 million—over one third of Sudan’s population—to starvation, with the UN warning that Sudan will soon become the “world’s worst hunger crisis.” These statistics are just the tip of the iceberg—the number of casualties is sadly underreported as it has been unsafe to collect data in the middle of the crisis. The conflict has ravaged Darfur, Khartoum, and the Kordofan states. The recent violent takeover of central Sudan and assault in El Fasher risk devastating consequences for civilians and could lead to deadly mass atrocities.

The war has had devastating consequences for women. Thousands of women have been killed. Of the 25 million people facing a catastrophic humanitarian crisis, women are particularly impacted. Women also comprise up to 70 percent of internally displaced people (IDPs). 

Rape and other forms of gender-based violence are a defining feature of the current war in Sudan. In January, the UN Panel of Experts on Sudan reported widespread and escalating conflict-related sexual violence in Darfur, including kidnapping, rape, and sexual exploitation of women and girls. The report underlined sexual violence committed by members of the RSF and allied militias in all areas under their control and the targeting of women due to their Masalit ethnicity. This report has only confirmed the horrific accounts of sexual violence we have been hearing about for months against women from the Masalit, Fur, and Zagawa tribes, particularly in IDP camps. Some women have been told by their attackers that they should be happy that now “they will have an Arab child”. These atrocities, combined with incidents such as the recent massacre in Ardamata, West Darfur, indicate a clear pattern of ethnic targeting of the Masalit people and other African tribes. 

Excellencies, I am haunted by the horrific reports of sexual violence that I hear every day. One that shattered my heart and shocked me to the core was that of Noura, who endured gang rape at only 12 years old, leaving her in critical condition. Her family, struggling to survive, had to make an impossible decision: either to seek treatment for her or to feed her youngest sibling. Hearing this, Noura looked up in tears, and told her mother she no longer wanted to live. These are choices that no family should ever have to make, and no child should ever have to endure. 

Noura’s story is one of too many. Women and girls have been raped multiple times, sometimes in front of their fathers, husbands, and sons in an effort to break their will and destroy their dignity. These women and girls have no protection, no access to humanitarian or medical assistance, and nowhere to turn for help. Attacks on medical facilities, restrictions on communications and deliberate obstruction of humanitarian aid delivery by the warring parties are making it even more challenging for survivors to access life-saving services, including sexual and reproductive health services. We hear that there are less than a dozen obstetricians and gynecologists left working in Khartoum. Further, the fear of retaliation for speaking up has made it impossible for many survivors to come forward. 

Yet despite these risks, grassroots and women-led organizations continue to be the lifeline for their people. They are helping their communities, documenting atrocities, and ensuring that the international community keeps its eyes on Sudan. It is indeed their bravery that draws the bold line between hope and despair. 

But they cannot do it much longer without your help. 

Excellencies, this Council must not remain silent as the inhuman acts I have just described continue with total impunity. It is worth noting that without the spread of weapons, the levels of sexual violence we are currently seeing in Sudan would never have occurred. As the Panel of Experts reported to you, the warring parties in Sudan and their external sponsors have continued to violate the Security Council’s arms embargo on Darfur. And as Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo told you on Friday, this is illegal, immoral, and it must stop. Yet, the Security Council has thus far failed to explicitly condemn these violations, or taken any action to stop the actors abusing it. Unless the Security Council calls out those who undermine the measures it has put in place, you are signaling to perpetrators that they can continue to violate international law without consequences. Ending impunity in Sudan for past and present crimes, including crimes against women, must be a priority for the Security Council if we are ever to achieve sustainable peace in Sudan. 

I urge the Security Council to:  

• Demand that all parties commit to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, stop the targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure, and enable full, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access, in accordance with international humanitarian law.
• Demand that all parties immediately cease all acts of sexual and gender-based violence, and hold perpetrators accountable. 
• Prioritize the creation of a new, well equipped and stronger UN presence on the ground for assuring civilian protection and humanitarian operations across Sudan and documenting violations of international law.  
• Ensure that women’s rights are central to all criminal accountability processes. Make violation of women’s rights, and all forms of sexual and gender-based violence, an explicit criterion for imposing sanctions. 
• Maintain and enforce the current arms embargo in Darfur and expand it to the whole of Sudan and to all parties to the conflict. 
• Demand and support the full, equal, safe and meaningful participation of Sudanese women in all de-escalation, peacebuilding, humanitarian and justice and accountability efforts, and all political processes regarding the future of Sudan. 

Excellencies, 

Two decades ago, when this Council first began to grapple with genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur, you did what was right. You mobilized humanitarian assistance, referred the situation to the International Criminal Court, set up a peacekeeping mission to protect the vulnerable, created a sanctions regime to designate and hold responsible those who violate international law, and imposed an arms embargo where it was needed. Now, there is no UN mission left in the country, no new individuals have been listed under the sanctions regime and your arms embargo is both limited and being flouted with impunity. In this current context, we see little solidarity with the people of Sudan. 

For more than 23 years, we have heard your promises to uphold women’s rights and to end conflict-related sexual violence. Regrettably these promises have yet to be realized. I reiterate today: all violations of women’s rights, regardless of perpetrator and wherever they occur, deserve your condemnation and warrant action and accountability. Be it in Gaza or in Israel, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in Myanmar, in Afghanistan or the many other conflicts where women pay the price of war. The international community’s failure to act in my country, Sudan, and in all these other contexts should be a stain on our collective conscience. Only you have the power to change this. Please act now. Thank you. 

The people of Darfur are facing an unprecedented death and destruction as the result of airstrike and confrontation between Sudanese Armed Forces(SAF) and Rapid Support Forces(RSF) in and around major cities in North Darfur. The most horrifying incident was reported to have been carried out last night in the city of Kabkabiya, North Darfur, a birth home of DWAG President .  

 

On Mar. 31st, at 2am,  civilians in Kabkabiya City reported that their sleep was cut short by the horrific sound of air bombardment that targeted the city-center,  destroyed several homes, and killed two people. A young mother and her infant were immediately pronounced dead and several members of their family were taken to the hospital with serious injuries. Four others were reported seriously injured too. The attack completely destroyed one of the oldest schools in the city, several civilian homes and hit part of the only operating hospital in the city that serves over 300,000 across the entire province. Many in the diaspora had a long night, including DAWG president Ms. Ahmadi who failed to reach their families due to the blockade of internet and phone services. The attack in Kabkabiya was not an isolated incident but its part of the ongoing campaign of killing civilians form both warring parties which is happening in Darfur, Kordfofan and El Gezira state. 

 

Many attacks were carried out in the last two weeks, where the Sudanese Armed Forces(SAF) has launched  a new phase of air strikes against  paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces(RSF). However most of the strikes have targeted residential areas and innocent civilians, which have destroyed at least dozens of local houses and inflicted great casualties. 

 

On  Mar 10th, the beginning of the traditional Muslim holiday Ramadan, the paramilitary RSF launched attacks on 28 villages in El Gezira state during the first five days of the holy month, resulting in the deaths of at least 43 people and forcing numerous families to flee their homes.

 

On Mar, 22, in West Kordofan and El Gezira states, at least a dozen civilians have been reported killed and many more wounded, in ongoing airstrikes and ground battles between SAF and RSF. According to local sources, the victims were mostly women and children. While some of the deaths were caused by airstrikes from the government, others were due to RSF pillage. The soldiers would come to the villages, shoot whoever resisted, looted people’s houses, cars, and money. 

 

On Sunday, March 24, 2024, SAF airstrike in Darfur, mainly targeted civilians inhabitant areas in El Fasher, the capital city of the Darfur region. Meanwhile, on Saturday, Mar 23, two women were killed, and others were injured in the city’s El Gubba neighborhood as a result of an exchange of artillery shelling between the SAF and the RSF. In addition, on Mar, 25, nine more civilians were killed, and 14 others were injured, most of whom were children, in an air raid on El Fasher early in the morning, the second attack by the Sudanese Air Force on the city within 24 hours.

 

Most of the casualties went unreported due to lack of access to communication services and many more people died due to lack of access to emergency assistance. They were forced to die in silence while the world was watching.

The killing of civilians in Darfur has been allowed to go on for far too long and it is utterly unacceptable. While RSF has been actively committing genocide against indigenous African, SAF has actively perpetrated war crimes and crimes against humanity both punishable under international laws. They further restrict access to humanitarian aid, block access to communication and use starvations as a tool of killing and torture. The international community must hold the RSF and SAF accountable for the horrors and crimes inflicted on helpless civilians in Sudan. DWAG stands in solidarity with the families of those who are impacted and strongly condemn SAF and RSF for their blatant attacks against civilians and violation of all international human rights and humanitarian laws. 

 

These attacks don’t only take lives of innocent civilians, but further constrain the delivery of humanitarian and emergency assistance to those in desperate need.  It’s quite disturbing that these attacks have been going on for a year now and there is no sign of change. These attacks have forced all humanitarian aid out, isolated the people of Sudan and had gravely endangered their lives every day. There must be actions that put an end to these man made suffering inflicted against the innocent civilians in Sudan and hold the SAF and RSF accountable for their crimes. 

 

For over a year the Sudanese people were left alone to fend for themselves and once again, they have shown the world their great resilience and bravery during the time of the worst crisis in the world today. However, now their resilience and their ability to persevere without protection and humanitarian aid will not hold any longer.

 

While the situation in Sudan remained the most dangerous and tragic in its scale and magnitude, powerful world leaders such as president Bieden chose to remain silent, which has sent a wrong signal to the perpetrators that they can continue their campaign of destruction without any consequences, we must speak up and change this. 

 

Now it is the time for the world to take serious and effective measures to respond and support the brave people of Sudan. DWAG calls on  the international community, particularly the United  States as the leading government in the world  and  the United Nation Security Council, to take collective actions to address the crisis without delay. The Sudanese people cannot wait any longer. Every second, every minute, and every hour, there are men, women and children dying.  Men are killed from airstrikes, women horrified by sexual violence, and children dying from extreme hunger and malnutrition. The people need urgent protection and  humanitarian aid to survive and we need pressure on the warring parties to stop their targeting against civilians.  

 

Therefore, DWAG call on the US, the other UNSC members, and the international community to take the following steps to end the war in Sudan and save lives:

 

• Urgent intervention for civilian protection to stop the war.
• Establish unhindered channel for the humanitarian aid to reach those in urgent need with or without the permission of the warring parties, including air drop and cross border assistance 
• Pursue accountability of those who were responsible for the mass atrocities and war crimes.
• Take an effective atrocities prevention approach to the crisis in Sudan

 

DWAG calls on the US government, UNSC and stakeholder working on Sudan to take this four- step atrocity prevention approach which centers on civilian protection, unhindered humanitarian aid , and accountability for these heinous crimes. We equally call on our supporters to join our voices to speak up for and stand with the people of Sudan. They do not deserve to die in silence and we must not let the world look the other way. 

 

With our collective effort we can make a difference 

 

Thank you for your continued support.

 

Niemat Ahmadi, Founder and President of DWAG

And the DWAG Team.

مجموعة عمل نساء دارفور

الاحتفال بيوم المرأة العالمي

دعوة للحماية، الإدماج والمشاركة

 

نكتب اليوم في مجموعة عمل نساء دارفور للاحتفال باليوم العالمي للمرأة من خلال تهنئة جميع النساء من جميع الخلفيات على تصميمهن القوي على تغيير وجه العالم الذي نعيش فيه اليوم. نود أن نحتفل بهذا اليوم من خلال الاحتفال بصمود المرأة السودانية وقيادتها المتميزة وتصميمها، للاعتراف بمحنتها وإعادة التزامنا بتمكينها من النضال من أجل العدالة والحماية والاندماج.

ومن الجدير بالذكر أن النساء في السودان، وخاصة في دارفور، على الرغم من كونهن ضحايا لأشد أعمال العنف الوحشية والانتهاكات الجسيمة لحقوق الإنسان، فقد أظهرن مرونة وشجاعة وعزيمة استثنائية حيث يواصلن باستمرار تجاوز الظروف القاسية وإحداث الاختلافات كل يوم!.

في 15 أبريل، عندما اندلعت الحرب وأجبرت الجهات الفاعلة الدولية وأصحاب المصلحة على إخلاء السودان، وتركت فراغًا إنسانيًا غير مسبوق، كانت نساء السودان هم من صعدوا وتحملوا المسؤولية الأكثر صعوبة – فتجمعوا بسرعة وتنظيموا أنفسهم لتوفير الاستجابة الطارئة إلى المحتاجين، وتوثيق الفظائع، وتحديد طرق الإخلاء الآمنة مع المخاطرة بحياتهم. وفي النهاية يرسمون خطًا عريضًا بين اليأس والأمل. إنه بالفعل جهد استثنائي يجب الاعتراف به وكتابته في كل كتاب تاريخ والاحتفال به في كل يوم عالمي للمرأة وكل يوم!

في السودان اليوم لا يوجد مكان آمن للنساء:

في الحرب الحالية في السودان، تم التأكد من ارتكاب أشكال مختلفة من العنف الجنسي والعنف القائم على النوع الاجتماعي (SGBV)، بما في ذلك الاختطاف، الإغتصاب، والاستعباد الجنسي، ضد النساء والفتيات خلال الهجمات التي شنها مقاتلو قوات الدعم السريع على الخرطوم ودارفور. وزعمت التقارير الأخيرة أيضًا أن القوات المسلحة السودانية ارتكبت حوادث عنف جنسي ضد النساء في بعض المدن وما حولها. والأمر الأكثر رعباً هو أن استهداف النساء لأسباب عرقية قد تم توثيقه جيداً في الإبادة الجماعية الحالية والمستمرة في دارفور.

في حين أن قوات الدعم السريع لا تزال تحتل وتنهب منازل المدنيين، وتستخدم بشكل مخيف الاغتصاب وجميع أشكال العنف الجنسي كتكتيك حرب، فإن القوات المسلحة السودانية تشن قصفًا مدفعيًا ثقيلًا وغارات جوية وهجمات عشوائية مستمرة في استهداف منازل المدنيين والأسواق والجسور والمنشآت الأساسية. الخدمات وطرق الإخلاء. ونتيجة لذلك، قُتل عدد لا يحصى من المدنيين الأبرياء، معظمهم من النساء والأطفال. ولسوء الحظ، لم يتم الإبلاغ عن الأرقام الدقيقة إلى حد كبير، حيث لا توجد بيئة آمنة لجمع البيانات، حيث طرد معظم عمال الإغاثة بسبب اندلاع الحرب في العام الماضي والمخاطر الأمنية التي خلقتها. ومن الجدير بالذكر أن غالبية اللاجئين القادمون من السودان هم من النساء المعيلات. وتشكل النساء والأطفال الأغلبية الساحقة من السكان النازحين، أي ما يقرب من 80-85%. من الواضح أنه خلال هذه الحرب كانت النساء الأكثر تأثراً، ليس فقط بسبب الانتهاكات الجسيمة لحقوق الإنسان التي يواجهنها ولكن أيضًا خلال أوقات الإرهاب.

وكما جرت العادة دائمًا ما تكون القيادات الشعبية، الشباب والنساء هم الذين يخاطرون بحياتهم ويخرجون لمساعدة الأشخاص في هذه الحرب. حاجة ماسة. ومما يزيد الطين بلة أن هناك القليل من الخدمات المتاحة لتلبية احتياجات النساء الطارئة. وفي بعض الحالات، تتم استهداف قادة المجتمع المدني على وجه التحديد بسبب عملهم وتركوا عرضة للخطر دون حماية. لقد أصبح السودان اليوم المكان الأكثر خطورة بالنسبة للمرأة، ولكن يجب علينا تغيير ذلك. وللأسف، لم نشهد أي تفاعل عالمي ولم نشهد تضامنًا عالميًا لتعزيز أصوات المرأة السودانية التي تناضل من أجل حقوقها في ظل ظروف صعبة للغاية.

 

إقصاء المرأة بشكل مخزي من مراكز صنع القرار:

على الرغم من ظهور مجموعة متنوعة من المبادرات الثنائية والمتعددة الأطراف والإقليمية والدولية لمعالجة الأزمات في السودان، مثل عملية جدة، والمبادرات الأخيرة للهيئة الحكومية الدولية المعنية بالتنمية والاتحاد الأفريقي، إلا أنها فشلت تمامًا في معالجة حجم الأزمة أو إحداث تأثير ملموس على الأرض. علاوة على ذلك، فإن جميع هذه المبادرات استبعدت النساء إلى حد كبير. وحتى المبادرات التي أطلقها المجتمع المدني اتسمت بالإقصاء المنهجي للنساء والشباب، وانعدام الشفافية والتنسيق، وعدم توافقها مع الواقع على الأرض، ومن غير المرجح أن تحقق تغييراً هادفاً ومستداماً على أرض الواقع.

على مر السنين، اقتصرت مشاركة المجتمع الدولي في السودان على التفاوض مع حفنة من القادة، الذين هم إما قادة الحكومة أو جماعات المعارضة. في معظم الحالات، تكون هذه المساحات موجهة للذكور وتتوقف على أجندة سياسية ضيقة الصياغة تقتصر على أجندة المرأة فكانت النتيجة الفشل المتكرر في دفع عجلة التغيير إلى الأمام.

 

ماذا يجب على قادتنا أن يفعلوا؟ ويجب بذل جهود وإجراءات مخصصة:

ولذلك، يجب علينا أن نحث مجلس الأمن التابع للأمم المتحدة وحكومة الولايات المتحدة والاتحاد الأفريقي على تكريس جهد حقيقي للحماية والمشاركة والفعالية.

 

إدراج المرأة على جميع مستويات عمليات صنع القرار، مع اتخاذ تدابير محددة بوضوح للمساءلة عن الجرائم المرتكبة ضد المرأة إذا أردنا التوصل إلى حل دائم في السودان.

لقد ظل السودان معزولاً لمدة 11 شهراً، وكلما زادت العزلة، زادت الخسائر في صفوف المدنيين وقلّت المساعدات الإنسانية التي يمكن أن تصل إلى المحتاجين. وفي هذا السياق، أصبحت النساء عرضة بشكل متزايد للهجمات لأنهن يتحملن مسؤوليتهن الخاصة في رعاية أسرهن ومجتمعاتهن بينما يوثقن الفظائع ويكافحن من أجل إسماع صوتهن.

ومن الجدير بالذكر أن النساء، على الرغم من كونهن ضحايا للعنف الأكثر وحشية والانتهاكات الجسيمة لحقوق الإنسان، فإن مرونتهن واضحة حيث يواصلن باستمرار تجاوز الظروف القاسية.

ولذلك، نود أن ننتهز هذه الفرصة لدعوة حكومة الولايات المتحدة ومجلس الأمن التابع للأمم المتحدة والاتحاد الأفريقي إلى اتخاذ الخطوات التالية لفرض تدابير الحماية والمساءلة وممر إنساني آمن في السودان. ولهذه الخطوات نفس القدر من الأهمية في تهيئة بيئة تمكينية للنساء للتجمع بأمان وتوضيح أجندتهن ووضع الاستراتيجيات والمشاركة الفعالة في جميع عمليات صنع القرار بما في ذلك مفاوضات السلام.

 

التوصيات:

• على مجلس الأمن التابع للأمم المتحدة أن يعتمد إطار عمل لمنع ارتكاب الفظائع يراعي النوع الاجتماعي لحل الأزمات في السودان، والذي يشمل استخدام مجلس الأمن للتدابير الحالية المتاحة له للضغط على المتحاربين من أجل الوقف الفوري للحرب وجميع الجرائم ضد المرأة.
• إعطاء الأولوية للوجود القوي للأمم المتحدة على الأرض في السودان لحماية المدنيين، وإيصال المساعدات الإنسانية دون عوائق، والتوثيق المناسب للفظائع.
• ويجب على مجلس الأمن التابع للأمم المتحدة أن يقترح معايير واضحة لإدماج المرأة، ودمج ولاية مبعوث الأمم المتحدة وإلزام أجهزته الأخرى بتقديم تقارير دورية عن وضع المرأة. تعتبر الموارد المالية والمساعدة الفنية ذات أهمية قصوى لضمان تمكين المرأة وتمكينها من المشاركة منذ البداية، بما في ذلك في مفاوضات وقف إطلاق النار والمراقبة وجهود بناء السلام على المدى الطويل.
• المساءلة الجنائية والمالية عن الجرائم المرتكبة في السودان، مع التركيز بشكل خاص على الجرائم المرتكبة ضد المرأة وإدراج المرأة في عملية العدالة من التحقيق، أثناء المحاكمة وترتيبات ما بعد المحاكمة. يجب على الدول الأعضاء إدراج الجرائم المرتكبة ضد المرأة كإجراء ذو أولوية في تحديد العقوبات، وجميع العمليات المالية والمساءلة الجنائية.
• التمويل الكافي للمنظمات التي تقودها النساء لتوثيق وحماية الناجين من العنف الجنسي واستعادة كرامتهن.

 

ومن خلال جهودنا الجماعية، سنقوم بتمكين وتثقيف ودعم النساء للنضال من أجل حقوقهن والسعي لتحقيق العدالة. نحن نؤمن أن نساء السودان يمتلكن القوة ولكننا بحاجة إلى خلق بيئة تمكينية لهن لممارسة هذه القوة ويجب ألا نسمح لأي شخص أن يسلبها منها تحت أي ظرف من الظروف.

 

 

شكرا لدعمكم المتواصل.

 

بإخلاص،

نعمات أحمداي، مؤسسة ورئيسة مجموعة عمل نساء دارفور

Darfur Women Action Group

International Women’s Day Celebration

A call for  Protection, Inclusion, and Participation 

 

Today at DWAG we  write to mark  the International Women’s Day by congratulating all  women of all backgrounds for their fierce determination to change the face of the world we live in today.   We wish to mark this day by celebrating the resilience, outstanding  leadership and determination of the Sudanese women, to recognize their plight and recommit ourselves to empower them to fight for justice, protection and inclusion. 

It’s worth noting that women in Sudan, particularly Darfur, despite being victims of the most brutal violence and gross human rights abuse, have demonstrated  exceptional resilience, courage and resolve as they persistently continue to rise beyond the cruel circumstances and make differences every day!.

On April 15th, when the war erupted and forced the international actors and stakeholders to evacuate Sudan, and leave an unprecedented humanitarian vacuum, it was the women of Sudan who stepped up and took most daunting responsibility – quickly assembled and organized themselves to provide emergency response to those in need, document atrocities, and identify safe evacuation routes at the risk of their lives. They eventually draw a bold line between despair and hope. It’s indeed an exceptional effort that needs to be recognized and  written in every history book and celebrated every international women’s day and every day! 

 

In Sudan today there is no safe place for women

In the current war in Sudan Rape and various forms of sexual and gender-based violence(SGBV) including abductions and sexual slavery have been confirmed to be committed against women and girls during attacks both on Khartoum and Darfur by RSF fighters. Recent reports also alleged that SAF forces have committed incidents of sexual violence against women in and around some cities. Its even more horrifying that ethnically driven targeting of women have been well documented in the current and the ongoing Darfur genocide. 

While the RSF still occupying and looting  civilians’ homes,  dismayingly using rape and all forms  sexual violences as a war tactic, the SAF is raging heavy artillery shelling,  air strikes, and random attacks continue to  target civilians’ homes, markets, bridges,  basic services, and evacuation routes. As a result, an uncountable number of innocent civilians have been killed, most of them women and children. Regrettably, the accurate  numbers have largely been under-reported as there is no secure environment for data collection with most aid workers being chased out by the eruption of war last year and the security risk it created.It’s worth noting that a majority of the refugees arriving from Sudan are women headed households. Women and children make up the overwhelming majority of the displaced population, nearly 80-85%. It’s evident that during this war women have been the most impacted, not only because of the gross human rights violation they face but also during the times of terror, it is always women grassroot leaders and youth that risked their lives stepping out to help those in urgent need. To make matters worse there’s little to no services available to  meet  women’s emergency needs. In some instances, women civil society leaders have been precisely targeted because of their work and left vulnerable without protection. Sudan today has become the most dangerous place to be a woman- but we must change that. Regrettably we have not seen any global outrage nor seen global solidarity to strengthen the voices of Sudanese women who are fighting for their rights under extremely difficult circumstances.

 

Shameful exclusion of women from decision making arenas 

Although,  a variety of bilateral and multilateral, regional and international initiatives to address the crises in Sudan have emerged, such as  the Jeddah process, the recent IGAD /AU  initiatives, they have utterly  failed to address the magnitude of the crisis or yield tangible impact on the ground. Furthermore, all of these initiatives  have  largely excluded women. Even the  initiatives from the civilian community have been characterized by systemic  exclusion of women and youth,  lack of transparency and coordination, not corresponding with realities on the ground, and unlikely to bring about meaningful and sustainable change on the ground.

Over the years, the international community’s engagement in Sudan has been limited to negotiating with a handful of leaders, who are either the government leaders or the opposition groups. In most cases, these spaces are male-oriented and contingent on a narrowly crafted political agenda exclusive to women’s agenda. The result has been a repeated failure to push change forward. 

 

What must our leaders do? Dedicated efforts and action must be taken.

Therefore, we must urge  UNSC, US government and the African Union to dedicate genuine effort for protection, participation, and effective inclusion of women at all levels of decision-making processes, with clearly defined measures of accountability for crimes committed against women if a durable solution in Sudan is to be realized.

Sudan has remained isolated for 11 months, and the more isolation means more civilian casualties and that less humanitarian aid could  reach those in need. With this context women have become increasingly vulnerable to attacks as they are shouldering their own responsibility of taking care of their families, their society while documenting atrocities and  struggling  to make their voice heard.

It’s worth noting that women, despite being victims of the most brutal violence and gross human rights abuse, their resilience are evident as they persistently continue to rise beyond the cruel circumstances.

Therefore, we wish to take this opportunity to call on the US government, UNSC and the AU to take the following steps to enforce the measures of protection, accountability, and a safe humanitarian corridor in Sudan. These steps are equally  critical in creating an enabling environment for women to safely gather, articulate their agenda,   strategize and effectively participate in all decision-making including peace negotiation. 

 

Recommendations:  

• UNSC to adopt a gender-responsive atrocities prevention framework for resolving crises in Sudan which include UNSC using existing measures at its disposal to pressure the belligerents to immediately cease the war and all the crimes against women. 
• Prioritize strong UN presence on the ground in Sudan for civilian protection, unhindered humanitarian aid delivery and adequate documentation of atrocities. 
• UNSC must propose clear benchmarks for women’s inclusion, and integrate  the UN envoy’s  mandate and obligate its other organs to report periodically on women’s  situation. Financial resources and technical assistance is paramount to ensure women are empowered and enabled to participate from the start including in ceasefire negotiation, monitoring and the long-term peace building effort.
• Criminal and financial accountability for crimes committed in Sudan, with special emphasis on crimes committed against women and women’s inclusion in the process of justice from investigation, during the trial and post-trial arrangements.  Member states must include crimes committed against women a priority measure in sanctions designation, all financials and criminal accountability processes. 
• Adequate funding for women led organizations for documentation and protection of the GVB survivors and restoration of their dignity.  

With our collective effort we will empower, educate, and support women to fight for their rights and seek justice. We believe the women of Sudan have the power but we need to create an enabling environment for them to exercise it and must not let anyone take that away under any circumstances. 

Thank you for your continued support. 

Truly yours,

Niemat Ahmadi, Founder and President of DWAG

 

Darfur Women Action Group (DWAG) is extremely outraged over the killing and the suffering imposed on civilians in Nyala, South Darfur and the lack of adequate response from the international community, including the United States. Over the last week, the people of Nyala city, South Darfur have seen an unprecedented death and destruction since the war in Sudan started. The extensive fighting between the Sudanese Arm Forces and the Raid Support Forces have been fought horrifically inside the city and on civilians’ bodies, with heavy shelling and a large-scale artillery attack for eleven consecutive days across the Southern part of the city, most of which fell into civilian homes and the market. Civilian casualties are on the rise while many more have gone missing. Many families have reported closing their doors forever because they all have been killed.

 

Reports confirm that over 60 civilians have been killed and over 250 have been wounded, while many more have yet to be a counted for because many people are frantic, fleeing for their lives while the phone and internet services are completely blocked. 50,000 people have been reported displaced, many of whom have fled to El Fasher, North Darfur where there are already a large number previously displaced from the towns of Kutum and Tawila, where they are severely lacking survival means and any form of humanitarian assistance. The UNOCHA has confirmed that the number of wounded has exceeded the hospital capacity and the hospitals are out of supplies necessary to perform emergency treatment for the victims. We are alarmed by the scale and the level of devastation created by these attacks and are gravely concern about the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Nyala.

 

Nyala is the capital of the South Darfur State, the third largest city in Sudan where the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have clashed for eight consecutive days. These battles have completely disregarded civilian lives and any respect for international human rights and humanitarian laws and must be punishable by law. This conflict continues to wreak havoc on Darfur, resulting in the destruction of an entire state. Due to the overwhelming number of victims stemming from these battles, the hospitals in Nyala are at capacity and are experiencing critical supply shortages. Currently, all state hospitals are out of service as they struggle to care for their patients with their dwindling sanitary materials and medicines.

 

The humanitarian crisis in Nyala has rapidly worsened and expands beyond hospitals, as emergency transportation such as ambulances have been restricted so they cannot reach those who have been injured to provide life-saving assistance, such as first-aid. This has also made it difficult to transport patients to any health facility. Due to the lack of basic needs (including shelter, food, and water) people are dying, while thousands of others have been forced into displacement. Forcing people to flee their homes is a tactic used by the RSF to remove the indigenous African population and take over their homes and land to exterminate and replace the indigenous population with those from Arab origin.

 

The Nyala Emergency Room Initiative calls for both the RSF and SAF to immediately stop bombing, killing, raping, and displacing civilians in the city of Nyala.

 

In addition, called on all humanitarian organizations must swiftly intervene to save the residents of the state through providing:

1. Life-saving medical supplies (medical gauze, intravenous solutions, medical plaster, fracture devices, pain killers, anesthetics, and all emergency medicines)
2. Food, drinking water, tents, protective equipment, and other essential supplies
3. Operating materials for electric generators for hospitals and ambulances

 

With now devastating attacks and the expulsion of Nyala residents, the RSF is planning to repeat what we have witnessed in El Geneina, West Darfur. If Nyla fell under RSF control, this means El Fasher will soon follow and the entire Darfur region will fall into the hands of the exterminators, Janjaweed militias.

 

The situation in Nyala today is echoing the sentiment of the genocidal pattern carried out in El Geneina, and we must not let it be repeated again.

 

Therefore, we urgently call on the United States government to demonstrate the leadership required to lead the UNSC members to undertake the following steps:

• Place Darfur under International Trusteeship to protect civilians and save lives.
• Open an unhindered humanitarian corridor to protect humanitarian actors.
• Impose accountability measure that will help end the war and bring justice to the victims.
• Impose targeted sanctions on individuals (including the generals and their advisers) by freezing assets and imposing a travel ban to limit their ability to acquire weapons from their regional enablers.
• The United States must make it clear to the United Arab Emirates that it must stop sullying weapons and fueling genocide in Darfur and Sudan at large.

 

The United States is a leading government in the world and it is imperative that the US demonstrate leadership in Sudan rather than following the lead of Saudi’s oppressive partisan regime in resolving the crisis in Sudan.

 

The human cost and the humanitarian crisis in Darfur is incredibly urgent and the international community must end its double standard in addressing and responding to the crisis. We must hold the UNSC to a higher standard and remind them that they must meet its obligation to the people of Sudan.

 

DWAG calls on its supporters to spread the word about this humanitarian catastrophe and urges them to appeal, especially to US government, to take leadership on Sudan. In addition, DWAG calls on all international and local humanitarian organizations to intervene to save lives, all media channels, and all international and local newspapers to increase the spotlight on Darfur.

 

The suffering in Darfur has gone on for far too long, and we must tell our leaders that they must not normalize genocide or impunity for such crimes.

 

With our collective effort we can make a difference

 

 

Sincerely,

 

Niemat Ahmadi, DWAG President, DWAG team

Sudan Needs You!

Darfur Needs You Now More than Ever Before. Speak up!

 

Darfur’s catastrophe has been ongoing for over 23 years, and the number of civilian casualties increases every day while the world remains silent.

 

Dear DWAG Supporters,

 

Over 95% of Darfur has fallen Under Rapid Support Forces Control – Legitimizing the Slaughter and Extermination of Indigenous African Population and that is why we are appealing to you for help.

On April 15^th, 2023 two generals started a devastating war in Sudan’s capital over a power struggle for control of the country. The war has quickly spread across Sudan, throwing the entire country into a state of collapse. The warring militias have created unspeakable suffering for the Sudanese people. Death and destruction encapsulate Sudan, particularly in the capital Khartoum where government (SAF) shelling, air bombardment, and machine gun attacks have targeted civilians’ homes, markets, bridges, and evacuation routes. The attacks also targeted basic services including hospitals, electric sources, and water sources. Similar counter attacks and violations were committed by the RSF. Additionally, Janjaweed fighters have occupied civilians’ homes, are expelling the owners, and are attacking or torturing those who refuse to leave. Credible sources have confirmed that rape, sexual, and gender-based violence have been committed against women and girls including abductions and sexual slavery in both Khartoum and during the attacks in Darfur by RSF fighters. On the ground, sources confirmed that an undetermined number of women have been taken away and have yet to be freed to this date. The atrocities committed in Khartoum alone possibly constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity, punishable under international law, and the international community must take action to end it and hold those responsible accountable.

 

The Ethnically Targeted attacks and Extermination of Indigenous African in Darfur

The situation in the Darfur region has escalated at an alarming scale. The nature of the attacks in Darfur are different than in Khartoum. In Darfur the attacks are systemic and precisely directed toward the indigenous African population. Through slaughter, deprivation of access to food, water, medical assistance and by restricting transportation of those in need of urgent medical attention, the RSF have begun to carry out a genocide in Darfur. By blocking access to phone services, internet, electric and other services, the RSF has isolated civilians inside cities to eliminate survival means and deprive civilians of connection and aid. The RSF have also forced the remaining population into a massive exodus. These genocidal tactics have been deliberately used and witnessed in El Geneina, West Darfur’s Kutum City and Tawila City in North Darfur, Mornay, West Darfur. Many more cities have been attacked and completely isolated from the outside world while the RSF forces are moving swiftly through the Darfur region while spreading recorded video messages confirming their intent to destroy and kill more people. Citing their intend by stating that “liberating the land from “Abeed” an Arabic – word for slaves.

Many of us in the diaspora were forced to watch our families and friends being killed, their bodies being degraded, dragged with racial slurs, and circulated online while those who survived were terrified and escorted out of their homeland in an unprecedented humiliating and inhumane act of exodus and expulsion of dignified people by the powerful from the only place they have ever known as home. We had hoped to never to see such atrocities committed while the entire world watches and does very little to halt it.

 

The danger of Darfur being out of the realm of government, fully controlled by  Rapid Support Forces.

More 95% of the greater Darfur region is currently in complete anarchy or out of the realm of government involvement, with lack of any control over its borders. Today, in a region the size of France, only two cities remain partially controlled by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) while the RSF control the other portion of the cities with attacks and occupation of people’s homes and preventing civilians’ movement within and out of the cities.

In mid-June, about seven Shiekh “leaders of civil administration” from 7 Arabs tribes have publicly declared their full support to RSF and urge their youth and men to mobilize to support the RSF in its genocidal attacks and control over Darfur and Sudan.

The only city that has yet to be attacked is El-Daein, the capital of East Darfur state, stronghold of Rezaigat tribes now it has just declared its full support and affiliation to Rapid Support forces, occupied mainly by majority of the tribe affiliated with RSF-Janjaweeds. Sadly, this means now Rapid Support forces has control over the 5 states of Darfur states with exception of Al Fashir and Nyala Cities- This is the most institutionalized genocide while our world leaders are silently watching or limited to a few words of condemnation.

We at DWAG Said No to the silent conspiracy against the ongoing and escalated genocide in Darfur. And that is why we need you to add your voice to ours to compel them to take concerted action to stop the genocide and save lives.

 

Attack in El Geneina

The horrifying massacre and massive exodus of indigenous Africans in El Geneina and the brutal slaughter of the West Darfur governor, Khamis Abakar, by the RSF, should have shocked the world’s consciousness and prompted a rapid response by international communities. Sadly, our leaders including the United States government have limited their action to statements of condemnation while civilians are massacred in an unprecedented mass slaughter.

As evident by the attacks in El Geneina, the RSF and Janjaweed are actively repeating the 2003 Darfur genocide. However, the current situation is worse than 2003 due to the limited ability to deliver humanitarian aid. El Geneina has experienced more than seven additional attacks after the original seven-week siege where thousands of troops stormed the city, targeting the majority of Masalit tribes and occupied neighborhoods, killing over 230 civilians in one day during the first attack.  In a report confirmed by CNN, “more than 5,000 people were reported to have been killed and at least 8,000 injured.”

All the attacks started with RSF forces looting food stores which included the World Food Program and other aid agencies and storage warehouses. Subsequently forces burned the markets, destroyed the hospitals and all clinics, looted, and burned pharmacies, and poisoned most of the main water sources. As confirmed by sources on the ground, this was all done with the deliberate intent of eliminating all means of survival. This occurred while the military SAF stayed in the army garrisons leaving civilians to fend for themselves. A small number of armed opposition troops belonging to Juba peace actors intervened, but they were under equipped and, lacking adequate ammunition to protect civilians, they were quickly overridden by the RAF’s large troops’ advanced weapons including heavy machine guns. This resulted in the Juba forces being slaughtered within the first hour of the attack.

Over 250,000 Darfuris have fled to Chad, but it has been reported that over 50,000 people were forced to remain hostage against their will and prevented from fleeing for safety. While desperately attempting to flee for their lives, many who ventured out were shot and killed instantly. While still under attack, most remaining hostages in El Geneina were dependent on one water source where people lined up for days to get a small amount for their families. Sources confirmed that children were given one cup of water in the morning and another in the evening, barely enough to survive during the course of the month of forced lockdown in El Geneina. This situation in El Geneina is beyond dehumanization and has affected the entire population of the state of West Darfur.

 

The Presence of Multinational Troops in Darfur

Today the dangerous reality of the Darfur situation is that the RSF has proven to be a multi-national militia. While the majority of its troops are from Sudan, many more are descending from west and central African countries, including Arab militias from the Republic of Mali, Niger, Central African Republic, and Libya respectively. Some foreign Militias have previously integrated, and many more have recently crossed the borders to support RSF fighters. The introduction of cross-border uncontrolled troops roaming across six nations alone proves to be a dangerous trend, with the region’s history of terrorist activities from Sudan to Mali and, if left unchecked, it will create ISIS, al-Qaida Army-like forces of regional extremists, fueling crises that both international and regional actors will be forced to respond to – but it will be too late to contain then.

We urge you to speak up and demand an intervention that can stop the genocide in Darfur and prevent Sudan from disintegration.

 

Allegation of RSF connection to Russian Mercenary – Wagner Group

Credible allegations confirmed that the RSF has grown its regional and international ambitions and has since then developed a close relationship with the dangerous Russian Mercenary – Wagner Group. Earlier reports to CNN by Sudanese and regional diplomatic sources confirmed that The Wagner Group has been supplying the RSF with missiles to aid its fight against the country’s army. All these regional, international dimensions of the RSF and the current genocidal attacks with the current imposed isolation and humanitarian catastrophe have promoted us and 40 other Darfur organization to call for Darfur to be place under international trusteeship pursuant to article 77 of the UNSC charter to protect millions  of Darfur population current left to be killed and abused by Rapid Support forces with no government presence

The people of Darfur have suffered over 20 plus years of genocidal attacks. Three million people, who have been displaced over the years, continue to be attacked and displaced. Their attackers have yet to be apprehended or held accountable. They are again under unprecedented systemic attacks with a deliberate policy of extermination of a predetermined segment of the population. The situation in Darfur today is worse than it was in 2003. The traditional methods used by Darfuris as a foundation of survival have been completely removed. While the Janjaweed militias used in 2003 were on horses and camelback, they have now become more sophisticated, with advanced weapons, considerable military and financial support from multiple regional and international actors – making chances for survival for many civilians unattainable. Regional supply of troops from various countries equally makes control or solution at the national level impossible.

 

Please speak up and demand protection of civilians in Darfur a top priority for the US government and UNSC

 

Action to be Taken. Sudan needs an Atrocities Prevention approach

In the face of genocide and the current unspeakable atrocities being committed, solutions must take an atrocity prevention approach that starts with civilians’ protection and distribution of humanitarian aid. This should be followed by accountability for the most serious international crimes which will then create an environment that enables peace and transformation of Sudan.

Therefore, we need your help to add your voices to ours to call on the US government and the members states of the security Council to take the following steps:

• Robust intervention to protect civilians and to stop the genocide unfolding in Darfur.
• Open an unhindered humanitarian’s access in Sudan and Darfur in particular to reach all in need.
• Pursuing accountability for those most responsible of past and current genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Darfur and across the Sudan.
• Impose targeted sanctions against individuals with assets freezing, travel ban and sanctioning all the business associated with the two warring generals in Sudan to cut the funding for devastating weapons.
• Deploy immediate humanitarian intervention to all in need inside Sudan and in the neighboring countries.
• Holding the regional enablers of the genocide in Darfur accountable including regional and international actors supplying fund and weapon to RSF- Janjaweed Militias
• Provide support of the CSOs and women from historically marginalized Sudanese to have voice at all levels of decision making regarding solutions to the current crises.

Under international law when civilians are under attack, facing mass killing and deprivation of humanitarian assistance, the international community including the US and UNSC bear the responsibility to intervene to protect civilians and save lives.

In the face of a devastating crises in Sudan, the rapidly escalating genocidal attack in Darfur we must not let our leaders look the other way.

Other ways to help: Send a letter here to your representative and call his/her office to ask that he/she be the voice for the people of Sudan and demand US leadership steps up to help end genocide and hold perpetrators accountable.

Donate to DWAG here or donate to other organizations providing support to the local level emergency response initiatives in Sudan.

Support our campaign and share it via your social media platforms.

The crises in Sudan and the catastrophe in Darfur are of global magnitude which require global action, but if we can speak in one voice and demand our government to work for an end, we can hold perpetrators accountable.

With our collective effort we can make a difference.