Responding to the killing of nine protesters and the injuring of at least 17 others by an armed militia group affiliated with the Sudan security forces in Fata Borno, North Darfur, on 13 July, Amnesty International’s Director for East and Southern Africa, Deprose Muchena, said:
“The people of Darfur have the right to have their voices heard and to be able to protest peacefully. The authorities in Sudan must immediately review their security operations in Darfur to ensure that they effectively protect civilians against these deliberate, unprovoked attacks by armed militias.
“They must also promptly conduct effective and impartial investigations into the protester killings and all other allegations of serious human rights violations committed by the militia group. They must end the impunity enjoyed by the security forces and armed groups that have inflicted death, pain and suffering on the people of Darfur for 17 years. Now is the time to hold those suspected of criminal responsibility for these attacks to justice in fair trials – as well as the security forces assigned to the area and under whose watch the attacks keep happening.
“The authorities must also ensure that humanitarian organizations have unrestricted and secure access to the area so they can deliver humanitarian assistance to internally displaced people whose homes were looted and burnt by the armed militia.”
Background
The people in Fata Borno begun protesting on 6 July to demand better security, protection of their crops and dismissal of the officials affiliated with the regime of former President Omar al-Bashir.
The people of Darfur have endured deadly attacks from armed militia and been caught in the middle of fights between armed militia and government forces. The violence has resulted in the deaths of more than 300,000, and the displacement of more than 2 million since 2003.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for four Sudanese government officials including former President Omar Al Bashir for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide committed against the people of Darfur.
