UN Accuses Warring Parties in Sudan of Ignoring the Fate of Thousands of Missing Persons
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The United Nations has raised alarm over the fate of thousands of missing people in Sudan, two years into the war, warning that the warring parties have shown little regard for human rights issues, despite repeated UN calls for urgent international action to address the crisis and pursue justice for victims and their families.
UN Expert on Sudan Radhouane Nouicer, appointed by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said:
“Unfortunately, based on past experience, the parties involved place very little importance on human rights concerns. The UN, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and even the UN Secretary-General have issued repeated calls to protect civilians and keep them out of this conflict. But sadly, these appeals have led to no meaningful results.”
Nouicer urged the parties to the conflict to protect civilians, stressing that “Sudanese civilians have paid the price of this senseless and unjustifiable war.” He noted that thousands of families have been displaced in search of safety.
Speaking to UN News on Wednesday, marking two years since the outbreak of war in Sudan, Nouicer stated that accurate statistics on the number of missing persons remain unavailable, with figures varying between sources. The Sudanese Group for the Defense of Rights and Freedoms estimates the number at around 50,000, while local Sudanese human rights organizations have documented at least 3,177 cases, including over 500 women and 300 children.
The UN expert confirmed that enforced disappearances and missing persons are a reality in Sudan, adding that this is only one of many grave violations resulting from a war he described as “unnecessary and incomprehensible.” Other violations include the destruction of residential areas, forced displacement, rape and sexual violence, and the forcible recruitment of youth by both sides.
On the challenges facing the documentation of enforced disappearances, Nouicer pointed to communication breakdowns, ongoing insecurity in conflict zones, the fear of retaliation preventing families from reporting, and weak judicial and security institutions. He noted that most recorded cases are concentrated in conflict-affected areas, such as Khartoum, Sennar, El Fasher, White Nile, and the Darfur states.
Regarding the role of international organizations and human rights groups in supporting the search for the missing and providing psychosocial assistance to affected families, Nouicer said there is some psychological and emotional support being offered, and families are regularly encouraged to share any available information. He added that the UN is working to provide legal assistance to help families file complaints and demand investigations. However, he reiterated that human rights concerns are clearly not a priority for the warring parties.
