UN: Sudanese Women Suffer Sexual Violence on a "Disgusting" Scale

UN officials told the Security Council on Wednesday that sexual violence is being perpetrated in Sudan on a "disgusting" scale, while the fighting in the Darfur region "reopens old wounds of ethnic tension" that could engulf the country. After the meeting, U.S. Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield stated that both sides are responsible for ethnic and sexual violence, adding, "There are no innocents here." Sudan's Ambassador to the UN, Al-Harith Idris Al-Harith Muhammad, responded to the Security Council, saying that Sudanese forces are "not involved in any sexual or gender-based violence, and the party responsible for these atrocities is well known." Senior official of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Edem Wosornu, stated, "The horrifying accounts of sexual violence recounted by those fleeing to Port Sudan are just a small fraction of what is occurring on a disgusting scale from conflict hotspots across the country." The UN's senior official for Africa, Martha Ama Akiya Bobi, informed the Council, "The fighting in Darfur continues to reopen old wounds of ethnic tensions from past conflicts in the region. This is very concerning and could quickly plunge the country into a long-term ethnic conflict with regional repercussions." In turn, UK Ambassador to the UN Barbara Woodward told the Security Council, "The humanitarian impact is worsening due to documented evidence indicating that both the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces are committing serious violations of international humanitarian law that may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity." Russian Deputy Ambassador to the UN Anna Evstigneeva confirmed that Moscow is concerned about the situation in Sudan and has pledged to support the Sudanese authorities. She accused Western countries of interfering in Sudan's internal political process and criticized the use of unilateral sanctions.