The Sudanese Social Democratic Party has denounced what it calls “grave crimes and human rights abuses” allegedly committed by General al-Burhan’s forces (SAF) and allied groups loyal to Minni Minawi and Jibril Ibrahim in Darfur’s Zarq area.
In a statement, the party accused these forces of deliberately targeting civilians, setting markets and homes ablaze, detaining women and children, destroying water resources, and looting property.
Labeling the acts as systematic and fueled by “deep-rooted hatred,” the party warned they might amount to ethnic cleansing and threaten the region’s fragile social fabric.
Zarq, a contested hotspot in western Darfur, has seen intensifying violence since April’s outbreak of hostilities between General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan’s SAF and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The chaos has reportedly enabled local armed groups to exploit the situation for personal gain and commit widespread atrocities.
The party urged international and regional organizations to take a firm stance against the violence, calling for an independent investigation to hold perpetrators accountable. “These escalating attacks are worsening the humanitarian crisis and further destabilizing Sudan,” their statement read.
With millions displaced and the United Nations repeatedly sounding the alarm over the potential for genocide, the crisis in Darfur has garnered increasing global concern. Rights groups accuse both state and non-state actors of engaging in ethnic violence and crimes against humanity.
Thus far, neither the SAF nor representatives of Minawi and Jibril have responded to the allegations.
The Social Democratic Party appealed for immediate intervention to protect civilians and avert further bloodshed, emphasizing that the international community must act swiftly to address the unfolding crisis.