Sudan: UN chief condemns reported executions as starvation risks rise
February 3, 2025
Khartoum, Sudan – UN Secretary-General António Guterres has strongly condemned the reported executions of nine people in Sudan, calling for an immediate end to violence and the protection of civilians.
The executions, which took place on January 30, were carried out by security forces in the town of El Fasher in North Darfur state. The victims were reportedly accused of being part of a rebel group that had attacked a military convoy.
“I am deeply disturbed by the reported executions of nine individuals in El Fasher, North Darfur,” Guterres said in a statement. “I urge the Sudanese authorities to immediately cease the use of excessive force and to fully respect the human rights of all Sudanese.”
The executions have sparked widespread condemnation from human rights groups, who say they are part of a pattern of violence and impunity in Sudan. The Sudanese government has denied responsibility for the killings, claiming that they were carried out by rebel forces.
The executions come at a time when Sudan is facing a severe humanitarian crisis. The country has been wracked by conflict and displacement for years, and millions of people are in need of food, water, and shelter.
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that starvation is a real risk in Sudan. The agency estimates that over 5 million people are facing acute food insecurity, and that number is expected to rise in the coming months.
“Sudan is on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe,” said WFP Executive Director David Beasley. “We need urgent action to prevent mass starvation.”
The UN is calling on the Sudanese government to allow humanitarian aid workers to reach those in need. The UN is also urging the government to end the violence and to negotiate a peaceful settlement to the conflict.
“The people of Sudan have suffered enough,” said Guterres. “It is time for peace.”
Additional information:
- The nine people who were executed were reportedly members of the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A), a rebel group that has been fighting the Sudanese government since 2003.
- The SLM/A has accused the Sudanese government of carrying out a campaign of ethnic cleansing against the Fur people, who are the majority ethnic group in North Darfur.
- The Sudanese government has denied these accusations, and has claimed that the SLM/A is a terrorist organization.
- The conflict in Darfur has displaced over 2 million people and killed over 300,000.
- Sudan is one of the poorest countries in the world, and is ranked 159th out of 189 countries on the UN Human Development Index.
Sudan: UN chief condemns reported executions as starvation risks rise
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