Important Report by Cross-Party Parliamentarians on the situation in Darfur, Sudan
The Darfur Inquiry: 20 Years After the Darfur Genocide
Wednesday 26 April 2022
09:30am to 11:30am
IPU Room, Palace of Westminster
The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Sudan and South Sudan is publishing a report on violence in Darfur since 2020. This is extremely topical given the current situation in Sudan.
The report will be launched in Westminster on 26th April between 09:30am and 11:30am. Speakers will Include Rt Hon Andrew Mitchell MP, Rt Hon Vicky Ford MP, Lord Alton of Liverpool and Mr Abdelhafiz Musa who has recently returned from visiting refugee camps.
The All Party Group’s Darfur Inquiry was conducted to mark the 20 years after the genocidal atrocities in the region and to warn about the dire situation that has the hallmarks of atrocity crimes. Twenty years ago, in 2003, Darfurians were subjected to genocidal atrocities which resulted in over 2.5 million people displaced and 300,000 to 400,000 killed. Many more have been subjected to a litany of abuses, including rape and sexual violence. The Darfur genocide of 20 years ago was met with startling impunity – impunity which is now among the many factors causing and driving atrocities which continue to take place.
The new report, entitled ‘Genocide: All Over Again in Darfur?’ was produced with the support of civil society organisations and experts who were invited to provide written and oral submissions.
The report finds the new waves of violence since 2020 include killings, the use of rape and sexual violence, torture, inhuman and degrading treatment, the use of child soldiers, and attacks on internally displaced person camps, among others. These crimes have all hallmarks of atrocity crimes and embody early warning signs of potential further atrocities.
The report was largely compiled before the latest outbreak of fighting between the two military factions. Members of the All-Party Group strongly condemn this fighting and call for an immediate ceasefire. They are deeply concerned that this escalation of violence will worsen the dire humanitarian situation already faced by millions of people in Sudan.
As the chair of the APPG, the Rt. Hon. Vicky Ford MP, indicated, ‘Our hearts are with the people of Sudan. The concerning messages from Sudan fill us with fear that instability and violence will claim many more lives, exacerbate the already challenging humanitarian situation and further destroy the country which is yet to recover from past atrocities.’
Lord Alton of Liverpool, chair of the Darfur Inquiry and Secretary of the APPG, indicated that ‘The current situation in Sudan is born out of the failed responses to the atrocities in Darfur over the last 20 years. It is extremely important This is something we should keep in mind and remind ourselves every time we dare to think that we can neglect the issue of justice. When you neglect issues you fail to see the harbingers, such as the half a million additional people displaced by the continuing conflict in Darfur in the first six months of last year alone – and some of whom end up as refugees in small boats. Conflict carries huge consequences. ’
A copy of the report is under strict embargo until 12 midnight on Tuesday 25th April 2023 and will be made publically available
Note for the editor:
This is not an official publication of the House of Commons or the House of Lords. It has not been approved by either House or its committees. All-Party Parliamentary Groups (APPG) are informal groups of Members of both Houses with a common interest in particular issues. The views expressed in this report are those of the group.
APPGs are informal cross-party groups that have no official status within Parliament. They are run by and for Members of the Commons and Lords, though many choose to involve individuals and organisations from outside Parliament in their administration and activities.
The APPG on Sudan and South Sudan was established to influence the UK government’s policy and practice by promoting the cause of peace, human rights, justice and development for all the people of Sudan and South Sudan across the political spectrum in Westminster and Whitehall.
