A group of 21 international organizations has called on the Sudanese Armed Forces to end ethnic targeting, killings, and human rights abuses in agricultural camps in El Gezira, Sudan. The statement sheds light on the widespread violence and displacement affecting the Kanabi communities, predominantly involved in agriculture since the colonial era, urging global intervention to prevent further atrocities.
A coalition of 21 internationally accredited civil society organizations focusing on human rights has issued a plea to the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and their affiliated militias. Their appeal seeks an immediate end to “ethnically motivated killings, enforced disappearances, and the destruction of agricultural camps” located in Sudan’s El Gezira state. These camps have historically housed agricultural workers from various ethnic groups, primarily from Darfur and Kordofan, since the 1920s.
The group’s joint statement aims to draw global attention to the harrowing violence currently afflicting residents of the agricultural communities, known as Kanabi, in El Gezira. These areas are reportedly suffering from severe human rights violations and breaches of international humanitarian law. In a prior statement from January 15, 2025, the organizations highlighted extra-judicial executions based on ethnic lines in Sudan, emphasizing the ongoing plight of these communities.
Recent attacks on Kanabi communities by the SAF-associated Sudan Shield Forces were firmly denied by the military group, which claims to support SAF investigations into the allegations. The coalition describes the assaults as reflective of an ethnic cleansing campaign, with the primary victims being civilians, particularly agricultural workers from diverse ethnicities such as Tama, Masalit, and Zaghawa.
The statement underlines the alarming prospect that millions may fall victim to a campaign aimed at forcibly displacing individuals based on their ethnic or regional affiliation. Reports suggest that since January 2025, upwards of 160 agricultural camps have been demolished or set ablaze, with inhabitants suffering theft, starvation, and displacement.
The responsibility for these crimes is attributed to the Sudanese armed and security entities, alongside tribal militia groups. The organizations are calling for urgent action from the African Union and the United Nations to assess the nature of violence faced by agricultural camp residents and to prevent further escalation which could amount to genocide.
The coalition demands the cessation of all ethnically biased violence and insists on accountability for those responsible for these crimes. Moreover, they urge the Sudanese army to fulfill its obligation of protection for all civilians indiscriminately, advocating for the disbandment of tribal militia groups and the halting of firearms distribution to civilians.
Furthermore, they call for the apprehension of individuals propagating hate speech that fuels ethnic tensions and violence. Previous attempts made by Radio Dabanga to request comments from both the Sudan Shield Forces and the SAF on the matter have yet to elicit responses, underscoring the sensitivity and seriousness of the ongoing situation in El Gezira.
The appeal from 21 international civil society organizations highlights the urgent need to address the prevalence of ethnic targeting and violence against agricultural communities in El Gezira, Sudan. It underscores the imperative for accountability, the protection of civilians, and a cessation to the widespread abuses occurring in the region. The collective call for action stresses that the ongoing situation could lead to irreversible humanitarian consequences, warranting immediate intervention and support from global entities.
Original Source: www.dabangasudan.org
