Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called on Sudan’s authorities to hold armed groups accountable for their actions following an attack on civilians that the organization says constitutes war crimes and potentially crimes against humanity. The incident took place on January 10, 2025, in the village of Tayba, Gezira state, central Sudan. According to HRW’s report, the Sudan Shield Forces (SSF), alongside the Islamist al-Baraa Ibn Malik battalion and other local militias, executed a calculated assault targeting civilians, corroborated by eyewitness accounts and verified footage. For detailed insights, the full report can be accessed on HRW’s website.
Survivors recount that heavily armed militants indiscriminately fired upon men and boys while setting their homes ablaze. The violence reportedly continued later that day during funeral proceedings for attack victims. HRW highlights that such actions breach the Geneva Conventions, which classify the killing of civilians and widespread destruction of civilian property as war crimes. Moreover, the legal framework of command responsibility posits that both military and civilian leaders can be held liable for their subordinates’ crimes (Oxford Bibliographies).
The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have ostensibly condemned the violence, labelling the acts as “individual violations” in their statement. Nevertheless, HRW urges more stringent action: suspending the Sudan Shield Forces, clarifying SAF’s affiliations, and rallying international support from nations like the US, UK, and EU to implement measures such as sanctions and travel bans to protect Sudanese civilians.
Sudan’s ongoing civil war, which began in 2023, predominantly pitches the SAF against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), leading to severe humanitarian repercussions, as noted by UN reports. Pertinently, an upcoming UN report is expected to present findings on Sudan’s violence to the Human Rights Council, urging accountability to dismantle cycles of impunity.
For further reading on the topic, the original publication is available on JURIST’s news page.