The EU’s condemnation of the atrocities in Darfur went up a notch on Sunday 12 November, with a statement referring to possible “ethnic cleansing” in this region of Sudan, where more than a thousand members of the Masalit community were killed in Ardamta (West Darfur) in just over two days, according to credible eyewitnesses, in attacks by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their affiliated militias.
“These latest atrocities are seemingly part of a wider ethnic cleansing campaign conducted by the RSF with the aim to eradicate the non-Arab Masalit community from West Darfur”, stressed the High Representative, Josep Borrell, in a statement issued on behalf of the EU27.
Saying it was “appalled” by this escalation, “the EU reminds the warring parties that under international law they have a duty to protect civilians in Darfur and throughout Sudan”.
The declaration states that “the EU is working together with the International Criminal Court and other international partners to monitor and document human rights violations in order to ensure accountability of the perpetrators and contribute to ending the culture of impunity in Sudan”.
It added that: “The international community cannot turn a blind eye (...) and allow another genocide to happen” in Darfur. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)