Sudanese civilians in South Kordofan and Blue Nile v Sudan
The case relates to human rights violations arising from hostilities in South Kordofan state involving the Sudan Armed Forces and forces aligned with South Sudan’s army, the People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) in Southern Kordofan State/Nuba Mountains in 2011.
THE STORY
The hostilities were reportedly marked by large scale human rights violations allegedly committed primarily by the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) with the support of the Popular Defence Forces (PDF) and National Congress Party (NCP) security forces, predominantly against civilians in the Southern Kordofan/ Nuba Mountains State.
The SAF, together with the PDF, is alleged to be responsible for widespread killings through indiscriminate bombing attacks, arbitrary arrests, torture, enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, particularly of civilians apparently targeted because of their ethnicity, as well as wide scale destruction of property.
The Sudan Democracy First Group (SDFG) in a report published on 13 June 2011, documented the devastating impact that violations had within a period of nine days on life and living conditions in the region.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) estimated on 27 June 2011 that at least 73,000 people had been displaced in the region, resulting in a humanitarian crisis.
ACTION FOR JUSTICE
On 2 July 2011, REDRESS, together with the Sudan Democracy First Group (SDFG), Interights and Human Rights Watch (HRW) submitted a request for provisional measures in respect of the situation in Southern Kordofan to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
In November 2011, the African Commission requested provisional measures, calling on the Government of Sudan “to intervene in the matter with a view to preventing irreparable harm being caused to the victims.”
In the absence of a response from the Government of Sudan, the Commission reiterated its request in August 2012. To date, the Government of Sudan has failed to heed the Commission’s call.
On 15 August 2012, REDRESS and its partners submitted arguments on the admissibility of the communication. On 22 August 2012, the Commission joined our communication with a communication filed by The Enough Project regarding massive human rights violations committed in South Kordofan and Blue Nile States.
THE OUTCOMES
On 6 August 2013, the Commission found the communication admissible. On 30 October 2013, REDRESS and its partners filed arguments and observations on the merits of the case.
The case is currently pending before the Commission.
QUICK FACTS
- Case Name: Sudanese civilians in South Kordofan and Blue Nile v Sudan
- Court/Body: African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR)
- Date Filed: 2 July 2011
- Current Status: Decision pending
- Legal representation: REDRESS Sudan Democracy First Group (SDFG), Interights and Human Rights Watch (HRW)