Western Countries Seeking Investigation into Sudan War Atrocities

A draft today from the United States, Britain, Norway, and Germany shows their intention to request an investigation by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights into alleged atrocities in Sudan. The document, reviewed by Reuters, condemns alleged human rights violations and atrocities committed during the ongoing five-month conflict and aims to establish a three-person fact-finding mission to investigate these claims. The level of bloodshed, violence, and displacement has escalated since fighting broke out between the army and the Rapid Support Forces. Among the hardest-hit areas is West Darfur, which has witnessed ethnically motivated attacks resulting in hundreds of deaths. The Rapid Support Forces deny accusations from conflict observers, human rights groups, and witnesses regarding involvement in attacks against civilians and state that any soldier found involved will be brought to justice. The document condemns the alleged human rights violations and seeks to form a fact-finding mission to investigate these claims. These experts will document the violations and provide oral and written testimonies to the 47-member council. Diplomats indicated that the draft was distributed to member states on Friday. The draft has not yet been formally presented to the council, which tends to escalate issues and is sometimes used by international prosecutors for their investigations.