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Sudan Conflict Worsens, Poses Greater Danger To Civilians — UN

Published

5 months ago

January 18, 2025

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has expressed alarm over the escalating violence in Sudan, warning that the conflict is taking an “even more dangerous turn for civilians.”

Türk issued the warning in a statement on Friday, highlighting reports of ethnically targeted killings in Al Jazirah state, southeast Sudan, and an imminent battle for control of Khartoum.

The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been locked in conflict since April 2023, a war Türk condemned as “senseless.” He noted that as the factions “battle for control at all costs,” direct and ethnically motivated attacks on civilians are becoming increasingly frequent.

“The situation for civilians in Sudan is already desperate, with evidence pointing to the commission of war crimes and other atrocities. I fear the situation is now taking an even more dangerous turn,” Türk said.

In the past week, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) documented at least 21 deaths in two attacks on camps in Al Jazirah, located 40 kilometers from the state capital, Wad Madani. However, the true scale of civilian casualties and attacks may be much higher.

On January 10, an assault on Taiba Camp left eight civilians dead, and at least 13 women and one man were abducted. Houses were torched, and livestock, crops, and property were looted, displacing dozens of families. A day later, 13 civilians, including two boys, were killed in an attack on Khamsa Camp.

These attacks followed the SAF’s recapture of Wad Madani and were reportedly carried out by the Sudan Shield Forces, led by former RSF commander Abu Aqla Keikal, who defected in October. The attacks predominantly targeted the Kanabi, a marginalized group composed of Nuba and other African tribes.

Sudanese authorities have pledged to investigate the attacks and prosecute those responsible, establishing a committee for this purpose. However, Türk highlighted a worrying rise in retaliatory violence, hate speech, and incitement to violence based on ethnic identity, which he stressed must urgently be stopped.

OHCHR received videos documenting violence, including unlawful killings, allegedly filmed in Wad Madani. The footage showed men in SAF uniforms dehumanizing victims and using derogatory terms such as “dirt” and “animals,” with summary executions labeled as “cleaning operations.”

Similar ethnically motivated violence persists in North Darfur, where RSF forces and allied Arab militias continue targeting African ethnic groups, particularly the Zaghawa and the Fur.

Meanwhile, in Omdurman, a market in the Ombada Dar es Salam square – an RSF-controlled area – was hit by drone strikes on January 13, reportedly launched by the SAF. The attacks left approximately 120 civilians dead and over 150 injured.

Türk reiterated his call for an end to the fighting and urged the warring factions to adhere to international humanitarian and human rights laws. He also warned that militia recruitment and mobilization along ethnic lines risk igniting a broader civil war and inter-communal violence.

“The SAF and RSF are accountable for the actions of those fighting on their behalf,” Türk said, urging immediate measures to protect civilians and ensure investigations into all violations and abuses are independent, impartial, and transparent.

NAN

Headline

Nigerian Grandmother Sacked By UK Varsity Over Misplaced Bracelet

Published

8 hours ago

June 6, 2025

Editor

A 71-year-old Nigerian grandmother, Janet Olufunke Damiro, has been dismissed from her cleaning job at the London School of Economics after being accused of stealing a bracelet.

British tabloid newspaper, Metro UK, exclusively reports on Thursday that Damiro, who moved to the United Kingdom from Nigeria in 1971 and had worked at LSE for 13 years, said she simply forgot the gold bracelet in her purse after finding it during her shift and intending to hand it in later.

She returned it three days later when questioned by management, but was still suspended and eventually dismissed in April for gross misconduct.

Damiro said, “I can’t sleep. I have never had a bad record or been to HR before in my life.

“LSE have treated me really badly. It was my only job, and I loved working there. I never expected to be suspended or dismissed.

“I did not steal this thing. If I see any items, I always hand them over.

“This is the first time in my life I have had a problem like this since I came to this country. It is really bugging me.”

Metro reports that more than 70 of her colleagues, including three supervisors, have written to LSE management in her defence, insisting on her honesty and professionalism.

“Janet has always conducted herself with integrity and consistently demonstrated a strong work ethic,” their letter read.

Her trade union, United Voices of the World, in a post on its website last month, appealed the dismissal and criticised the university’s handling of the situation.

Speaking with UVW, Damiro said, “I don’t steal. I’m not a thief. I’ve worked at LSE for over 10 years without any problems. I just forgot. At my age, you can forget like that.

“They look at me like I’m a thief. It’s unfair. I’ve not been myself at all, I don’t sleep at night. I don’t have a job now, but I have to pay my rent and bills. Who’s going to employ me at this age?”

According to Metro, the university has declined to comment publicly, citing the ongoing nature of the case.

Meanwhile, LSE students have launched a petition calling for her reinstatement, describing the punishment as “deeply disturbing” for what they believe was a “minor mistake.”

An appeal hearing initially scheduled for May 22 was adjourned, and a new date has been set for later in June.

Headline

Family Kicks As UK Varsity Sacks Nigerian Grandmother

Published

8 hours ago

June 6, 2025

Editor

The family of Janet Damiro, a 71-year-old cleaner recently dismissed from the London School of Economics, has responded to widespread reports surrounding the incident, describing the online and media narratives as misleading and lacking critical context.

The victim’s daughter, Aina Damiro, in a statement made available to The PUNCH on Friday, clarified the events that led to her mother’s dismissal, stating that the situation has been “blown out of proportion.”

According to her, the incident occurred in February during the final minutes of Janet’s morning shift when she found a bracelet on the floor.

She reportedly picked it up with the intention of handing it in but inadvertently forgot.

She said that the bracelet was left untouched in her coin wallet, which remained in her locker at the university.

“When approached about the bracelet a few days later, she was honest and cooperative.

“She retrieved it immediately and explained what had happened. There was no denial or attempt to hide it,” she said.

The family insists this was a case of forgetfulness rather than theft or misconduct, stressing that Janet had served the institution faithfully for years.

They argued that the university’s decision to terminate her employment was a disproportionate response lacking empathy, especially for an older worker nearing retirement.

The family said, “To see her name and image used to suggest wrongdoing is not only unfair but deeply hurtful.

“This was an innocent mistake that has been misrepresented in a way that raises questions about how older workers, particularly women of colour in lower-paid roles, are treated.”

The family stated that Janet granted the interview to the Metro UK in good faith, hoping to raise awareness, not to be vilified.

“We hope the public and media will reconsider how they are framing this story,” the family added, urging institutions to reflect on their duty to support vulnerable and long-serving members of staff.

The London School of Economics has not issued a formal response as of press time.

The case has since sparked conversation online under hashtags such as #JusticeForJanet and #RespectElderWorkers.

Headline

Myanmar Arrests Six-year-old Girl, 15 Others Over Ex-general’s Death

Published

9 hours ago

June 6, 2025

Editor

Myanmar authorities have arrested 16 people including a six-year-old girl over the assassination of a retired general shot dead in Yangon last month, state media said.

A former ambassador to Cambodia, Cho Tun Aung, was gunned down outside his home on May 22 in an attack claimed by an anti-junta group calling itself the “Golden Valley Warriors”.

Myanmar’s military seized power in a 2021 coup, plunging the country into a complex, multi-sided civil war involving pro-democracy guerrillas and resurgent ethnic minority armed groups.

Most fighting is confined to the countryside and smaller towns but grenade and gun attacks on junta-linked targets are regularly reported in Yangon, Myanmar’s largest city and commercial hub.

The Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper said 16 members of the Golden Valley Warriors — 13 men and three females — had been arrested in various locations.

Those held include the wife and six-year-old daughter of the suspected shooter, identified as Myo Ko Ko, the state-run newspaper said, without explaining what the girl is accused of.

The report said Myo Ko Ko and another suspect rode to the general’s home on bicycles and shot him before fleeing to a safe house.

The junta has suffered significant territorial setbacks in recent months but analysts say it is far from defeat, with a powerful air force supplied with Russian jets and military backing from China.

AFP