The organization “Same Justice” condemns the killings of Sudanese civilians following violent incidents that erupted in protest against the killing of other citizens in South Sudan.
The organization affirms that the killings and violations taking place in Sudan constitute a breach of international humanitarian law. It calls on global organizations to take firm and immediate action to stop the conflict between the warring parties and to protect civilians.
The organization emphasizes the need to hold perpetrators accountable and demands the protection of civilians from killings, forced displacement, and all forms of violence in Sudan.
On January 20, 2025, South Sudan’s police announced the killing of 16 civilians across four states during acts of violence that erupted on January 16 and 17, 2025.
Last week, Juba, the capital of South Sudan, witnessed a protest against the killing of 29 citizens in Wad Madani, Gezira State, which later escalated into riots and looting targeting civilian shops.
As violence spread across various parts of the country, the government imposed a nighttime curfew starting Friday, and President Salva Kiir called for “restraint.”
The National Police of South Sudan stated that it would continue patrolling markets and residential areas to protect civilians and their properties.
The Sudanese army, in a statement, announced the arrest of approximately 24 suspects involved in the incident. It also condemned what it described as “individual violations” in Gezira State, following accusations from human rights organizations that the Sudanese army and its allies had launched “ethnically motivated” attacks against civilians accused of supporting the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which are fighting the Sudanese army.
Since the outbreak of the war between the Sudanese army and the RSF in mid-April 2023, the number of forcibly displaced people in Sudan has exceeded 12.4 million, including about 8.8 million internally displaced and 3.3 million who have fled to neighboring countries, according to figures from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.
The conflict in Sudan has also resulted in the deaths of at least 29,600 people since April 2023, according to the United Nations. Violations in Sudan have escalated to include systematic killings and direct targeting based on ethnic, tribal, and gender grounds.
International organizations continue to condemn the human rights violations and crimes committed by the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF, which have intensified over the past 20 months.
