UN rights office warns of ‘dangerous tipping point’ as abuses surge in Sudan
2025-02-18 12:00
GENEVA (Reuters) – Sudan is facing a “dangerous tipping point” as violence and other abuses surge amid political turmoil, the United Nations human rights office said on Friday, calling for urgent action to avert widespread atrocities.
In a report covering the period from January to November 2024, the office said that at least 128 people had been killed and 184 injured in violence related to protests and military operations.
It also documented arbitrary arrests, torture, sexual violence, and other forms of ill-treatment by security forces.
“The deterioration of the human rights situation in Sudan has reached a dangerous tipping point,” Volker Türk, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, said in a statement.
“Unless urgent action is taken, the country risks spiraling into widespread atrocities,” he added.
The report said that the majority of the violence occurred in the context of protests against the military takeover that led to the ouster of former President Omar al-Bashir in April 2023.
However, it also documented incidents of violence in Darfur, where ethnic conflict has been ongoing for decades.
The U.N. human rights office called on the Sudanese authorities to end the use of excessive force against protesters and to prosecute those responsible for human rights violations.
It also urged the international community to provide support to the Sudanese people and to pressure the authorities to respect human rights.
The Sudanese government has denied allegations of human rights abuses and has accused the U.N. of bias.
However, the U.N. human rights office said that its report was based on “credible information” from a variety of sources, including victims, witnesses, and human rights groups.
The report comes as Sudan faces a deepening political and economic crisis. The military takeover has led to the suspension of international aid and has exacerbated the country’s already fragile economy.
The U.N. human rights office said that the worsening economic situation was also contributing to the surge in violence.
“The deteriorating economic situation is creating a fertile ground for social unrest and violence,” the report said.
“If the current trajectory continues, Sudan risks sliding into a conflict that could have devastating consequences for the country and the region,” it added.
UN rights office warns of ‘dangerous tipping point’ as abuses surge in Sudan
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