Attacks on Civilians in Saraf Jidad, Sirba, Silea and Abu Suruj in January and February 2008

Publisher: Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

Publication Date: March 20, 2008

Copyright: 2008

Publisher Website: http://www.ohchr.org

Language: en

Category: Sudan, Peacekeeping and Conflict Resolution, Conflict, Peace and Security, Human Rights

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This report is issued by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in cooperation with the United Nations – African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID). The report contains the findings of the investigation conducted by UNAMID Human Rights into the January and February attacks on the villages of Saraf Jidad, Sirba, Silea and Abu Suruj in West Darfur. The attacks were carried out in the context of a major military campaign which the Sudanese government launched in January 2008 in an attempt to regain control of the northern corridor of West Darfur and drive out the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), a non-signatory insurgent group, from the area. The investigation revealed that violations of international humanitarian and human rights law against the civilian populations of Saraf Jidad, Sirba, Silea and Abu Suruj, were perpetrated by armed militias and Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) during those attacks. The activities of JEM prior to the Government’s military offensive, including its attack on Government positions in Silea (29 December) and its public statements justifying the use of force to address the Darfur conflict, were determined by the Darfur Ceasefire Commission to be in violation of the 2004 N’Djamena Ceasefire Agreement.

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