Geneva: UN human rights chief Volker Trk has called on the international community to intervene immediately to stop more mass killings and other flagrant war crimes against civilians in Sudan. Trk stated on Monday that the call was necessary as the brutal Sudanese conflict shows no signs of abating.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Trk emphasized the urgency of the situation at the Human Rights Council in Geneva, stressing that without intervention, the situation is likely to deteriorate further. He reiterated his appeal for the extension of an arms embargo from Darfur to include all of Sudan to prevent further bloodshed.
For nearly three years, rival forces from the national army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia have been embroiled in a battle for control of the country. The High Commissioner for Human Rights highlighted the need to address the “continuous inflow of weapons,” citing testimonies from survivors of atrocities committed by RSF in El Fasher, North Darfur’s capital, last October.
In a harrowing account, Trk described consistent reports from witnesses that hundreds of people seeking refuge at El Fasher University were killed, with victims allegedly targeted due to their non-Arab ethnicity, specifically the Zaghawa ethnic group. Survivors recounted scenes of devastation, likening the mass deaths along roads leading away from El Fasher to an apocalyptic scenario.
The UN rights chief’s remarks align with the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) findings from January, which concluded that war crimes and crimes against humanity had occurred in El-Fasher, associated with the RSF siege. Trk confirmed that the UN’s own investigations corroborate the ICC’s assessment.
Previously, Trk’s office had issued warnings regarding prior atrocities, such as the RSF’s attack on Zamzam camp for displaced people in April 2025. He squarely attributed responsibility for these crimes to the RSF and their allies.
The conflict in Sudan erupted in April 2023 following the collapse of a power-sharing agreement between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF. The ensuing humanitarian crisis has impacted over 30 million people, leading to repeated displacements, famine, and systemic sexual violence.
As violence spreads from Darfur to the central Kordofan regions, there is increasing concern over potential further abuses, exacerbated by the use of advanced drone weaponry by both factions. Trk noted that despite recent breakthroughs by the SAF and allied Joint Forces in breaking sieges on Kadugli and Dilling, drone strikes persist, causing civilian casualties.
In an effort to curb further violence, the High Commissioner outlined measures to support mediation efforts and de-escalate the situation. These measures include commitments to avoid targeting civilians or residential areas with explosive weapons, ensure the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid, end arbitrary detentions, and cease attacks on civilian infrastructure.
Trk concluded with a poignant reminder of the damage inflicted by RSF attacks on key infrastructure, including the Merowe dam and hydroelectric power station, which once generated 70 percent of Sudan’s electricity.