The United Nations Office at Geneva
Multimedia Newsroom
Edited News , Press Conferences | OHCHR
UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence comment on Sudan
“The High Commissioner is appalled by the killing of the Governor of West Darfur, Khamis Abdullah Abbakar, on 14 June, just hours after he was arrested by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in El-Geneina, capital of West Darfur - where the conflict has taken on an ethnic dimension, with the Rizeigat “Arab” militias and other allied militias, backed by the RSF, targeting the Masalit community,” Laurence told the biweekly press briefing in Geneva.
“The killing of the Governor, who was himself a Masalit, came just hours after he had criticized the RSF in a TV interview over ongoing attacks by RSF-mobilized “Arab” militias against the Masalit and critical infrastructure in El-Geneina, a situation he described as “beyond description,” the spokesperson said.
“All those responsible for this killing must be held to account, including those who bear command responsibility. Alongside liability of the direct perpetrator, Governor Abbakar was in the RSF’s custody, and it was the RSF’s responsibility to keep him safe,” Laurence stressed.
“His killing was the second high-profile killing in El-Geneina in a matter of days, after the older brother of the traditional chief of the Masalit, Tariq Abdelrahman Bahreldin, was killed,” he added.
Laurence continued: “We are also deeply concerned by the rise in hate speech in West Darfur as it could further inflame tensions. Our Office has reviewed video clips recorded by members of “Arab” militia boasting about their “victories”. One video appears to show a militia member walking in an empty street saying: “now in Althawra neighbourhood… the killing of the Nuba has been successfully accomplished… the expulsion of the Masalit has been successfully accomplished… sons of dogs.”
The spokesperson called for justice and accountability for extrajudicial killings and all other violations and abuses that have occurred during this ongoing conflict.
The UN Human Rights Office is calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities in El-Geneina and throughout Sudan and the immediate establishment of a humanitarian corridor between Chad and El-Geneina, as well as safe passage for civilians out of all conflict areas.
“El-Geneina has been under large-scale and repeated attacks by RSF and allied fighters since 24 April. They have targeted districts inhabited by the Masalit; preventing the movement of people, goods, and humanitarian aid, and destroying essential infrastructure – all this amid a communications blackout since at least 19 May,“ Laurence said.
For more information and media requests, please contact:
Ravina Shamdasani - + 41 22 917 9169 / ravina.shamdasani@un.org or
Liz Throssell + 41 22 917 9296 / elizabeth.throssell@un.org or
Jeremy Laurence + +41 22 917 9383 / jeremy.laurence@un.org or
Marta Hurtado - + 41 22 917 9466 / marta.hurtadogomez@un.org
Tag and share
Twitter @UNHumanRights
Facebook unitednationshumanrights
Instagram @unitednationshumanrights
Tag and share - Twitter: @UNHumanRights and Facebook: unitednationshumanrights
- Exterior shots: Palais Wilson
- SOUNDBITE (English)—Jeremy Laurence, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “The High Commissioner is appalled by the killing of the Governor of West Darfur, Khamis Abdullah Abbakar, on 14 June, just hours after he was arrested by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in El-Geneina, capital of West Darfur - where the conflict has taken on an ethnic dimension, with the Rizeigat “Arab” militias and other allied militias, backed by the RSF, targeting the Masalit community.”
- Cut aways: briefing room
- SOUNDBITE (English)—Jeremy Laurence, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “The killing of the Governor, who was himself a Masalit, came just hours after he had criticized the RSF in a TV interview over ongoing attacks by RSF-mobilized “Arab” militias against the Masalit and critical infrastructure in El-Geneina, a situation he described as “beyond description.”
- Cut aways: briefing room
- SOUNDBITE (English)—Jeremy Laurence, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “All those responsible for this killing must be held to account, including those who bear command responsibility. Alongside liability of the direct perpetrator, Governor Abbakar was in the RSF’s custody, and it was the RSF’s responsibility to keep him safe.”
- Cut aways: briefing room
- SOUNDBITE (English)—Jeremy Laurence, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “His killing was the second high-profile killing in El-Geneina in a matter of days, after the older brother of the traditional chief of the Masalit, Tariq Abdelrahman Bahreldin, was killed.”
- Cut aways: briefing room
- SOUNDBITE (English)—Jeremy Laurence, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “We are also deeply concerned by the rise in hate speech in West Darfur as it could further inflame tensions. Our Office has reviewed video clips recorded by members of “Arab” militiaboasting about their “victories”. One video appears to show a militia member walking in an empty street saying: “now in Althawra neighbourhood… the killing of the Nuba has been successfully accomplished… the expulsion of the Masalit has been successfully accomplished… sons of dogs.”
- Cut aways: briefing room
- SOUNDBITE (English)—Jeremy Laurence, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “El-Geneina has been under large-scale and repeated attacks by RSF and allied fighters since 24 April. They have targeted districts inhabited by the Masalit; preventing the movement of people, goods, and humanitarian aid, and destroying essential infrastructure – all this amid a communications blackout since at least 19 May.”
Similar Stories
1
1
1
Press Conferences | WFP , UNHCR , WHO , IOM , UNFPA
Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by the representatives and spokespersons of the United Nations Refugee Agency, the World Food Programme, the World Health Organization, the International Organization for Migration, and the United Nations Population Fund.
1
1
1
Edited News | WFP
In Sudan, deep concerns persist for the many tens of thousands of people believed to still be trapped in the city of El Fasher in the Darfur region, but UN aid agencies believe they may soon get access to the embattled city.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
Human rights are underfunded, under attack and undermined worldwide, but activism is still powerful, undeterred and mobilising, says UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Human Rights Day press conference
1
1
1
Press Conferences | OHCHR
Human Rights Day Press Conference by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk
1
1
1
Press Conferences | UNICEF , UN WOMEN , UNHCR , UNFPA , UNDP , UNIS
Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by the representatives and spokespersons of the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Refugee Agency, the United Nations Children’s Fund, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Population Fund, and UN Women.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNICEF
Gaza newborns ‘scarred by war before first breath’ by preventable maternal malnutrition: UNICEF
Starving mothers in Gaza are giving birth to underweight or premature babies who die in intensive care units or struggle to survive as they endure acute malnutrition, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned on Tuesday.
1
1
Press Conferences | OCHA
Embargoed until Monday, December 8, at midnight (NY)/6:00am (Geneva)
Tom Fletcher, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, on funding requirements ahead of the release of the 2026 Global Humanitarian Overview
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR
UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Seif Magango delivered the following remarks on Friday at the bi-weekly press briefing in Geneva.
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA
The humanitarian situation in northern Mozambique continues to deteriorate sharply as prolonged attacks by non-State armed groups in Nampula trigger one of the largest displacement surges of the year, the UN warned on Friday.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | UNESCO , OCHA , UNICEF , IFRC , FAO , OHCHR , IPU
Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by spokespersons and representatives of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the United Nations Children’s Fund, the Food and Agricultural Organization, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Federation of the Red Cross and the Inter-Parliamentary Union.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | OHCHR
The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination to announce findings on Burundi, Guatemala, Maldives, New Zealand, Sweden and Tunisia
1
1
Edited News | UNMAS
The deadly legacy of conflicts old and new from Gaza to Sudan and beyond continues to kill and maim civilians on a near-daily basis, mine action workers said on Wednesday, as they appealed for greater support for their lifesaving work in a context of deep funding cuts.