{"id":20115160,"date":"2025-03-18T20:13:00","date_gmt":"2025-03-18T19:13:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dabangasudan.org\/?p=20115160"},"modified":"2025-03-18T22:17:12","modified_gmt":"2025-03-18T21:17:12","slug":"intl-civil-society-group-pleads-for-end-to-ethnic-targeting-in-sudans-el-gezira","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dabangasudan.org\/en\/all-news\/article\/intl-civil-society-group-pleads-for-end-to-ethnic-targeting-in-sudans-el-gezira","title":{"rendered":"Int’l civil society group pleads for end to \u2018ethnic targeting\u2019 in Sudan\u2019s El Gezira"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A group of 21 imminently accredited international human rights, pro-democracy, lobby, and special interest civil society organisations* have made a joint appeal to the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and their allied militias, to \u201cend ethnically motivated killings, enforced disappearances, and destruction of agricultural camps\u201d in Sudan\u2019s El Gezira state, where members of ethnic groups, originally from Darfur and Kordofan, have worked the land as agricultural workers since colonial times in the early 1920s.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a joint statement today, the organisations say they hope \u201cto once again draw attention of the world community to the tragedy faced by residents of the agricultural camps, locally known as Kanabi<\/em>, in El Geizra, central Sudan. These camps are currently the scene of pernicious violence<\/a> and massive violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. In this connection, we refer to the joint NGO statement issued on 15th January 2025, entitled \u201cEthnically motivated extra-judicial executions in Sudan.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kanabi<\/em> are communities of farm workers are mostly from non-Arab ethnic groups in western and southern Sudan who settled in the area decades ago. Kanabi<\/em> communities have come under attack in recent weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On January 14, the SAF-aligned Sudan Shield Forces on January 14 denied<\/a> accusations it had been involved in abuses against Kanabi<\/em> communities and expressed support for SAF-led investigations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe systematic and targeted killings, enforced disappearance, destruction of human habitats and displacement of residents of the agricultural camps carry the characteristics of an ethnic cleansing campaign,\u201d the group laments. \u201cThe victims are civilians, mainly agricultural workers (Tama, Masalit, Bargo, Fur, Gimir, Margarete, Zaghawa, Misseriya, Rizeigat and a host of other ethnic groups from the greater Kordofan and Darfur region). The ancestors of these people were encouraged by the British, Sudan\u2019s then-colonial rulers, to settle and till the land in El Gezira scheme in the 1920s.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The group highlights: \u201cThe number of potential victims of this campaign could reach millions of people to be targeted in a terror campaign to force them to leave the area because of their ethnic or regional origins.\u201d The statement says that reports indicate that since January 2025, at least 160 camps were destroyed or burned down and their inhabitants were robbed of valuables, cash, jewellery and vehicles. Stored agricultural produce, food items and more than 5,000 cattle (sheep, goats and cows) were also stolen. Thousands of victims of this violence were starved and rendered destitute to force them to flee to Sennar, Kosti, El Gedaref, El Fao, and other towns and places.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Sudanese army and security forces and tribal militia groups allied to them, mainly the Sudan Shield Forces, are collectively responsible for the crimes committed against the camps\u2019 residents,\u201d the group says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They strongly urge the African Union Special Envoy on the Prevention of Genocide and other Mass Atrocities Mr. Adama Dieng and the Special Advisor to the UN Secretary General on the Prevention of Genocide Ms. Virgina Gamba \u201cto study the nature of violence meted out to the residents of the agricultural camps in EL Gezira. We call upon them to determine whether the commission of such massive and serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law on ethnic and racial origin, if not prevented or halted, might lead to genocide.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The group further demands that the security forces and their allied militia groups end ethnically motivated killings, enforced disappearances, the destruction of the agricultural camps in El-Gezira. All individuals that ordered the commission of such crimes should be held accountable and the victims and their families should be compensated. The demand that the army assumes its responsibility to protect all people in Sudan without discrimination. It should disband all tribal militia groups and immediately halt the distribution of assault firearms to civilians in any part of the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In their statement, the group also requests that \u201call publicly known scaremongers and race-baiting individuals should be apprehended and held accountable for their role in propagating hate speech, ethnic hatred and targeted killings.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Sudan Sheild Forces and the SAF have been approached by Radio Dabanga for comment on the joint statement. In the past, with the exception of official statements, all belligerents have been reticent to respond to questions from Radio Dabanga regarding ongoing military operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

*Signatories:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1.            Abwab Organization for Development and Social Peace, Kampala<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2.            African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies, Banjul<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

3.            African Organization for Rights and Development, Kampala<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

4.            Afrika Jom Centre, Senegal<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5.            Al Fajr Organization for Peace, Development and Justice, Nairobi<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

6.            Canabi Congress, Sudan<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

7.            Centre du Commerce International pour le D\u00e9veloppement, Conakry<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

8.            Darfur Victims Support Organization, Kampala<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

9.            Democratic Monitor for Transparency and Rights, Kampala<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

10.          Human Rights Institute of South Africa, Johannesburg<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

11.          Independent Commission for Human Rights in Norh Africa, Morocco<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

12.          Interfaith International, Geneva<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

13.          Lifeline Relief and Rehabilitation Organization, Kampala<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

14.          Nubian Center for Peace and Democracy, Kampala<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

15.          Rencontre Africaine pour la D\u00e9fense des Droits de l\u2019Homme, Dakar\/Geneva<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

16.          R\u00e9seau de Formation et de Recherche sur les Migrations Africaines, Switzerland<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

17.          Sudan Knowledge Centre, Switzerland<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

18.          Sudanese Refugees Advocacy Group, Australia<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

19.          Sudanese Women Union, Khartoum\/Nairobi<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

20.          The Agricultural Workers Initiative for Rights and Development, Kampala<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

21.          Ubuntu Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies, Kampala<\/em><\/p>\n