UN Mission Reports Possible War Crimes in Sudan

A U.N.-mandated mission has found evidence suggesting large-scale abuses by both sides in Sudan's civil war that may amount to war crimes or crimes against humanity. A 19-page report recommends an arms embargo and a peacekeeping force to protect civilians amid the violence perpetrated by the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces.

Both sides in Sudan's civil war have committed abuses on a large scale that may amount to war crimes or crimes against humanity, a U.N.-mandated mission revealed on Friday. The mission recommended an arms embargo and the deployment of a peacekeeping force to protect civilians.

The 19-page report by a UN Fact-Finding Mission was based on 182 interviews with survivors, their family members, and witnesses. It concluded that both the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces were responsible for attacks on civilians and had used torture and carried out arbitrary arrests.

"The gravity of these findings underscores the urgent and immediate action to protect civilians," said the mission's chair, Mohamed Chande Othman, who called for an independent and impartial force to be deployed without delay.

(With inputs from agencies.)