UN sounds alarm on Sudan spiraling ‘into chaos and lawlessness’ as civilian deaths triple

The UN has issued a dire warning over the worsening crisis in Sudan,where arbitrary civilian killings have tripled in recent months amid escalating warfare between rival military factions.

Addressing the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva,UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk described Sudan as “plunging deeper into chaos and lawlessness,without the attention this situation demands.” Between February and April,OHCHR recorded a sharp surge in unlawful executions,primarily attributed to the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) targeting alleged collaborators in Khartoum. Türk highlighted widespread violations of international humanitarian law,including in El Fasher,North Darfur,where weeks of heavy fighting have displaced thousands.

The Independent International Fact-Finding Mission echoed these concerns,warning that the use of heavy weaponry in populated areas,along with rising sexual violence,is exacerbating famine risks in Darfur. The mission urged an arms embargo and accountability for atrocities. Meanwhile,the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) announced the capture of Karb al-Toum,a strategic oasis near the border with Libya and Egypt,strengthening their supply routes. This move follows their intensifying siege on El Fasher — one of the army’s last strongholds in Darfur. With the humanitarian crisis deepening,Türk condemned the global silence: “We are on an indefensible path of escalating conflict and open disregard for international human rights and humanitarian law.” He called for urgent international action before Sudan collapses further into lawlessness.