‘There should be an international investigation’

Armed movements appeal for safety of civilians in Darfur and South Kordofan

Several Darfuri resistance movements requested the international community on Tuesday to protect civilians in the states of Darfur and South Kordofan from government attacks.The Sudan Liberation Army–Minni Minnawi (SLA-MM) and its Abdul Wahid faction (SLA-AW), Liberation and Justice Movement-Kerubino (LJM-K), Justice and Equality Movement-Khalil (JEM-K), appealed to the international community to safeguard the civilian population from aerial attacks orchestrated by the Sudanese Air Force (SAF).

Abubakar Hamid Nour Amin, a leader of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), said in an address on the occasion of Eid ul-Fitr that the bombings taking place day and night have led to death and displacement of innumerable civilians.

“There must be an international investigation into crimes committed by the regime in Khartoum in Darfur and South Kordofan and other regions of Sudan. I would also like to appeal to the neighboring countries to support our demands and stand alongside us,” Abubakar said.

He also stressed on the need for unity between the armed and political movements in Darfur to reach a just and comprehensive solution to all issues regarding Sudan.

‘SAF killed 26 civilians’

Two human rights groups accused the Sudanese Air Force (SAF) of killing 26 civilians in indiscriminate bombings over South Kordofan on Tuesday.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Amnesty International stated, after a week-long investigation in the Nuba Mountains, that the air strikes had killed 26 civilians, injured at least 45, and forced tens of thousands from their homes.

The groups appealed to the Sudanese government to end the indiscriminate bombing of civilians in the state of South Kordofan and allow humanitarian aid in the region.

According to a leaked UN report, the Sudanese army carried out killings, arbitrary arrests, detention, kidnappings, attacks on churches and air strikes – all of which may constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity.