Governor of Darfur Calls for Independent Investigation into Massacres in Fasher
In a significant call for accountability, the Governor of Darfur, Minni Arko Minawi, has urged for an independent investigation into the tragedies and massacres occurring in the city of Fasher. This plea comes amidst alarming warnings from the Solidarity Alliance regarding the potential escalation of violence into retributive conflict. As tensions rise, the need for a thorough examination of the events unfolding in Fasher has become increasingly urgent.
Urgent Call for Protection and Accountability
In a statement released yesterday, Minawi emphasized that the fall of Fasher should not compromise the future of Darfur, saying, “The fall of Fasher does not mean forsaking the future of Darfur to groups of violence or interests of corruption and betrayal.” He called for immediate protection of civilians and transparency regarding the fate of displaced individuals. Minawi insisted on the necessity of an independent investigation into the violations and massacres, asserting that these acts are occurring “out of sight,” and declared confidently, “Every inch will return to its rightful owners.”
Concerns Regarding Humanitarian Conditions
Khaleed Omar Youssef, Deputy Chairman of the Sudanese Congress Party and a leader within the Solidarity Alliance, described the situation in Fasher as “extremely critical.” He highlighted the city’s plight, stating it has “suffered what mountains cannot bear due to the intense fighting in recent months.” Youssef reiterated that the recent developments require “urgent measures to protect civilians, secure safe corridors for voluntary movement of residents, and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid.” He called upon all parties involved to cooperate in these efforts.
Civil Society’s Response
The President of the Ummah Party for Reform and Renewal, Mubarak Al-Fadil, condemned the atrocities occurring in Fasher, asserting that “human conscience should not allow another massacre after the genocide in Geneina, the capital of West Darfur.”
Youssef also called on the international community to take “concrete steps on the ground,” advocating for the deployment of UN observers and Red Cross teams to oversee the evacuation of civilians and to halt killings based on ethnicity. His urgent message included a plea for immediate assistance for the starving and the injured, as well as shelter for the displaced.
Warnings Against Retaliatory Violence
The Democratic Civil Alliance of Revolutionary Forces, known as “Solidarity,” released a statement condemning all violations against civilians. Through spokesperson Bakri Al-Jak, the alliance issued an urgent appeal for adherence to international humanitarian law, emphasizing the need to ensure civilian protection in areas transitioning control in various states. The alliance urged international and regional organizations to apply maximum pressure on the warring parties to open safe humanitarian corridors.
Solidarity cautioned against the potential transformation of the conflict into a retaliatory struggle, calling on social and political forces to “elevate the voice of peace and adhere to the principles of reason and national responsibility.”
Human rights activist Noone Kashkosh, a key figure in the Nasserite Party, stated, “The humiliation of civilians in the videos from Fasher resembles what happened during the violent dispersal of the sit-in before the General Command in June 2019.” Meanwhile, resistance committees in Khartoum released a statement saying, “Yesterday, we said that Fasher was dying of hunger; today, it is dying from killings and extermination,” accusing the Rapid Support Forces of committing ethnic cleansing against citizens.