A coalition of 21 international civil society organizations has urged Sudanese authorities to halt ethnic targeting in El Gezira. They reported escalating violence against agricultural workers from non-Arab backgrounds and emphasized the need for accountability and protection of victims. Their statement calls for investigations by the African Union and the United Nations.
An international coalition of twenty-one civil society organizations has urged the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and affiliated militias to cease ethnic targeting in El Gezira state. The groups called attention to ongoing violence, including killings and enforced disappearances affecting non-Arab ethnic agricultural workers from Darfur and Kordofan who have historically occupied this land since the 1920s. The statement emphasizes the deteriorating situation faced by individuals residing in agricultural camps, known locally as Kanabi, which have recently experienced severe violations of human rights and humanitarian laws.
The organization’s appeal references a previous joint statement from January 15, 2025, denouncing extra-judicial executions in Sudan. The Kanabi communities, primarily comprised of various ethnic groups such as the Tama, Masalit, and Fur, have been violently targeted in recent weeks. Despite accusations of abuse, the SAF-aligned Sudan Shield Forces have pledged to support investigations into the alleged attacks.
The civil society group characterizes the violence as an ethnic cleansing campaign, citing the targeting of civilians and a vast scale of displacement. They estimate that millions could potentially be affected by this terror campaign intended to drive individuals from their ancestral lands. Reports have indicated the destruction of at least 160 camps, alongside widespread theft of personal property and livestock, leaving countless individuals destitute and displaced.
The group’s statement holds the Sudanese army, security forces, and tribal militias accountable for these crimes and urges both the African Union and the United Nations to investigate the violence against residents of El Gezira. They emphasize the urgency for accountability for those who perpetrate ethnic violence while calling for the disbanding of tribal militias and the cessation of distributing military arms to civilians.
In conclusion, the international civil society group has called for urgent action to address the rampant ethnic targeting occurring in El Gezira, Sudan. Their statements outline a grave humanitarian crisis affecting agricultural workers from non-Arab communities and highlight the necessity for accountability among security forces involved in the violence. This coalition is appealing for international investigation and intervention to prevent further ethnic cleansing and uphold human rights in the region.
Original Source: www.dabangasudan.org
