Authorities must ensure independent and
effective investigations that include violations by RSF against protesters, and
civilians in war regions
(27 June 2019) Millions of Sudanese were
hopeful for a regime change, and an end to decades of brutality by the Rapid
Support Forces (RSF) following the ouster of former President, Omar al Bashir
after months of yet the longest and the most significant protests in Sudan’s
history. However, many were left disappointed but still hopeful after security
agencies including the government-backed paramilitary RSF brutally dispersed a
sit-in outside the army headquarters in Khartoum on 3 June 2019.
The sit-in had lasted since 6 April 2019, and
pro-democracy protesters had vowed to continue until the Transitional Military
Council(TMC) cedes power to civilian authority. The seven-member TMC was
established with a mandate of overseeing a two-year transitional period after
the Sudanese Army ousted al Bashir on 11 April 2019.
The violent attack unfortunately did not only
end the sit-in, but also ended negotiations to form a joint transitional
council between the TMC and Alliance for Freedom and Change(AFC), an umbrella
organization for opposition and protests organizers. The TMC instead called for
a general election in the next nine months.
The AFC has since laid conditions that must be
fulfilled before negotiations can resume, including; an admission by the TMC of
responsibility in the attack, release of the all political and war prisoners,
restoration of internet services, and withdrawal of military from the streets
in Khartoum.
Ten days after the 3 June massacre in Khartoum,
the TMC admitted that it ordered the dispersal of the sit-in outside the Army
headquarters which by “mistake” left scores dead, hundreds injured, arrested
and/or disappeared.
In a press conference, shams al-Din Kabashi,
the TMC spokesman admitted that all members of the TMC and security officers
had convened the night before, on 2 June and agreed to disperse protesters. The
Sudanese Attorney General and the Head of the Judiciary were both present in
the meeting and even gave undisclosed advice to the TMC.
Investigation process and the dismissal of
general prosecutor by TMC
On13 June, the TMC promised to investigate the
massacre and “hold accountable anyone, regardless of their rank, if proven to
have committed violations.”
ACJPS received reliable information that an
investigation committee headed by the prosecutor general was formed to
investigate the massacre. The committee however includes some members of the
security forces including, the RSF who took lead in the massacre.
At the start of the investigations,
approximately 400 members of RSF were arrested as suspects of the massacre and
were detained in Suba prison in Khartoum. However, a reliable source informed
ACJPS that the alleged “suspects” agreed to a deal with the TMC to be detained
for a few days and would be released thereafter. The arrest was merely a show
to the international community that investigations had commenced.
On 20 June, ACJPS received reliable information
indicating that, prosecutor general, Alwaleed Sayed Ahmed was dismissed by TMC
and was replaced by Abdullah Ahmed. Alwaleed had recently been appointed
prosecutor general for Sudan after the overthrow of President Omar al Bashir in
April 2019 and was heading the investigation committee.
After being appointed head of the investigation
committee in June, Mr Alwaleed admitted participating in the meeting convened
by the TMC to disperse the sit-in but claimed to have left by the time the
purge operations were discussed. It is still unknown whether his dismissal
relates to his role in the ongoing investigations of the 3 June massacre.
Meanwhile the TMC has since then rejected and
ignored calls by the opposition and international community to permit
investigations by independent bodies of the United Nations and African Union,
claiming that Sudan is a sovereign state.
Role of the RSF in the 3 June Massacre in
Khartoum
Killings, Torture, Rape and Property
destruction; tools previously used by the genocidal Janjaweed militia against
civilians in Darfur and other regions.
On 3 June 2019, at about 5:00AM, the RSF
jointly with the national security officers, including child soldiers armed
with automatic guns, tear gas, woods, sticks and leather lashes violently
dispersed the sit-in outside the Army headquarters, popularly known among the
protesters as strikers’ square or Columbia. The attack, aimed at dispersing
pro-democracy peaceful protesters left at least 119 people killed ( see Annex
1), hundreds injured (see Annex 2) and/or arrested, several raped and
properties of protesters looted. The joint forces prevented and even attacked
medical workers for trying to save injured protesters, including inside
hospitals.
According to a reliable source, more than 40
bodies were recovered from the waters after security forces tried to camouflage
the extent of their crimes, by throwing bodies into the River Nile, weighing
them down with bricks. some victims were allegedly raped inside a clinic
attached to Khartoum University where they had run for safety from the security
officers. Personal belongings of protesters including vehicles and tents were
burned. Several protesters hid themselves in nearby buildings for more than 24
hours, and those tried to leave their hideouts after 2 days were beaten by the
security forces who by then, were patrolling the streets.
Earlier, thousands of pro-democracy protesters
who gathered to demand for transfer of power to a civilian government by TMC
had erected road blocks using stones and blocks primarily at the entrance of
the Army headquarters, and surrounding streets including Aljama and Albaladia
streets. Volunteers from amongst protesters searched every person entering the
sit-in to ensure no weapons or sharp objects were smuggled in.
The roadblocks were to intended increase
pressure on the TMC, one of the reasons why people guarding the roadblocks,
popularly known as Tarasawere the first to be attacked by security forces on 3
June after several attempts earlier to remove the barricades.
In May, the head of the TMC, Lieutenant General
Abdel Fattah al-Burhan even briefly suspended negotiations between the TMC and the opposition for 72
hours and demanded that the barricades be removed