The Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called on political actors and international partners in Sudan to ensure that progress on human rights and accountability of rights violations are central to any new government transition.

According to the human rights watchdog, the country’s new government must put an end to violent crackdowns against peaceful protesters, release arbitrarily detained protesters, and take concrete steps in ensuring accountability for serious abuses.

The Sudanese army had on 03 November announced the formation of a new government, ten days after the coup of General Abdul Fattah al-Burhane.

Since the military coup, security forces have been violently dispersing peaceful protesters and carrying out widespread arbitrary arrests, incommunicado detentions, and in some cases ill-treatment, torture and sexual violence.

On 5 December, the Force of Freedom and Change (FFC), formed by the civilian component of the former transitional government, signed a new ‘framework agreement’ with the military leadership and other political parties.

This agreement was made over a year after military leaders ousted the power-sharing transitional government, killing 122 people in the protest that followed.

‘The last 14 months have shown how widespread impunity fosters more killings and other abuses’, HRW’s Sudan researcher, Mohamed Osman, said.

‘Accountability is critical for the future and should not be swept under the rug’.

The incoming transitional government will be formed by civilians and lead all government forces as stated in the new agreement.

Source: HRW

Photo source: HRW