The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has expressed outrage over reports of widespread extrajudicial killings of civilians in Khartoum, Sudan.
The killings occurred after the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) recaptured the city on March 26.
Türk described the reports as “utterly appalling” and urged the commanders of the SAF to take immediate action to stop the arbitrary deprivation of life.
He also called for independent, transparent, and effective investigations into the incidents, emphasizing that individual perpetrators and those with command responsibility must be held accountable under international criminal law.
The UN Human Rights Office has reviewed multiple horrific videos posted on social media, showing armed men executing civilians in cold blood, often in public settings.
The victims were allegedly targeted for suspected collaboration with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group led by Mohamed Hamdan Daglo.
The conflict between the SAF and the RSF has resulted in a catastrophic humanitarian situation, with over 30 million Sudanese requiring urgent assistance, millions displaced, and tens of thousands killed.
The UN has emphasized the need for all parties to respect the right to life and to take immediate steps to prevent further human rights abuses.
