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Sudan Conflict Worsens, Poses Greater Danger To Civilians — UN

Published

6 months ago

January 18, 2025

Editor

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

‘Top Boy’ Star, Micheal Ward, Charged With Rape, Sexual Assault

Published

14 hours ago

July 26, 2025

Editor

Bafta-winning British actor, Micheal Ward, has been formally charged with multiple sexual offences, including rape and assault.

The charges were confirmed by the Metropolitan Police on Thursday.

Ward, 27, who rose to fame for his role in the critically acclaimed drama Blue Story and later starred in Top Boy and Small Axe, is facing two counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault.

The alleged offences are said to have occurred in January 2023.

He said: “I deny the charges against me entirely,” and added that he had co-operated with police fully throughout their investigation and had full faith it would lead to his name being cleared.

Ward’s alleged offences relate to one woman and are reported to have taken place in January 2023, according to the police force.

The actor made his name as one of the stars of cult hit Blue Story in 2019, and won the Rising Star prize at the Bafta Film Awards the following year.

He played Jamie in Netflix hit Top Boy from 2019 to 22, and was nominated for best supporting actor at the Bafta TV Awards for Small Axe in 2021.

The Jamaican-born actor also starred in the acclaimed 2022 drama Empire of Light, and will be seen in the forthcoming US pandemic-era Western movie Eddington, which is due to be released in the UK on 22 August.

Ward is due to appear at Thames Magistrates’ Court in London on 28 August.

Metropolitan Police Det Supt Scott Ware said: “Our specialist officers continue to support the woman who has come forward, we know investigations of this nature can have a significant impact on those who make reports.”

Catherine Baccas, deputy chief crown prosecutor for CPS London South, said: “Having carefully reviewed a file of evidence, the Crown Prosecution Service has authorised the Metropolitan Police to charge Micheal Ward, 27, with two counts of rape, two counts of assault by penetration, and one count of sexual assault against a woman in January 2023.”

She added: “We remind all concerned that proceedings against the suspect are active and he has a right to a fair trial.

“It is vital that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in anyway prejudice these proceedings.”

Headline

9 Most-requested Documents For Work Visas

Published

1 day ago

July 25, 2025

Editor

Planning to work abroad? Whether you’re heading to Canada, the UK, Germany, Australia, or the UAE, securing a work visa is a critical step and the process often comes with a long list of required documents.

While specifics vary by country, most immigration offices demand a core set of paperwork before granting a work visa. Here’s a breakdown of the most commonly requested documents:

1. Valid Passport

Your passport must typically have at least six months’ validity beyond your intended stay. Some countries require blank visa pages as well, so double-check the requirements.

2. Job Offer Letter

This is one of the most important documents in your visa application. It must come from a verified employer or government-approved sponsor. The letter should include details such as your job title, salary, and terms of employment.

3. Educational Certificates

These include your university degrees, diplomas, and any vocational qualifications relevant to the job you’re applying for. In some cases, you may need to have these credentials assessed or authenticated.

4. Proof of Work Experience

Most countries will want to see evidence of your past employment. This could include:

Reference letters from previous employers
Employment contracts
Payslips

5. Language Proficiency Test Results

If you’re going to an English-speaking country like the UK, Canada, or Australia, proof of English proficiency is often required. Commonly accepted tests include:

IELTS
TOEFL
PTE Academic

Some non-English-speaking countries may ask for proof of proficiency in their official language.

6. Police Clearance Certificate (PCC)

This is a document issued by law enforcement to confirm that you have no criminal record. It’s essential to prove your good character and legal standing in your home country.

7. Medical Certificate

Many countries require a medical exam to ensure you’re fit to work and free from contagious diseases. The test is usually conducted by a panel physician authorized by the destination country’s immigration authority.

8. Proof of Funds

You may need to show bank statements or other financial documents to prove you can support yourself (and your dependents, if applicable) until you start earning.

9. Professional Accreditation or Licensing

If you’re applying for jobs in regulated sectors like healthcare, education, or engineering, you may need proof of accreditation or registration with a professional body in the destination country.
(VANGUARD)

Headline

Over 1.3 Million Return To Homes In Sudan – UN

Published

1 day ago

July 25, 2025

Editor

More than 1.3 million people who fled the fighting in Sudan have headed home, the United Nations said Friday, pleading for greater international aid to help returnees rebuild shattered lives.

Over a million internally displaced people (IDPs) have returned to their homes in recent months, UN agencies said.

A further 320,000 refugees have crossed back into Sudan this year, mainly from neighbouring Egypt and South Sudan.

While fighting has subsided in the “pockets of relative safety” that people are beginning to return to, the situation remains highly precarious, the UN said.

Since April 2023, Sudan has been torn apart by a power struggle between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, commander of the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. The fighting has killed tens of thousands.

The RSF lost control of the capital, Khartoum, in March and the regular army now controls Sudan’s centre, north and east.

In a joint statement, the UN’s IOM migration agency, UNHCR refugee agency and UNDP development agency called for an urgent increase in financial support to pay for the recovery as people begin to return, with humanitarian operations “massively underfunded”.

Sudan has 10 million IDPs, including 7.7 million forced from their homes by the current conflict, they said.

More than four million have sought refuge in neighbouring countries.

– ‘Living nightmare’ –

Sudan is “the largest humanitarian catastrophe facing our world and also the least remembered”, the IOM’s regional director Othman Belbeisi, speaking from Port Sudan, told a media briefing in Geneva.

He said 71 percent of returns had been to Al-Jazira state, with eight percent to Khartoum.

Other returnees were mostly heading for Sennar state.

Both Al-Jazira and Sennar are located southeast of the capital.

“We expect 2.1 million to return to Khartoum by the end of this year but this will depend on many factors, especially the security situation and the ability to restore services,” Belbeisi said.

With the RSF holding nearly all of the western Darfur region, Kordofan in the south has become the war’s main battleground in recent weeks.

He said the “vicious, horrifying civil war continues to take lives with impunity”, imploring the warring factions to put down their guns.

“The war has unleashed hell for millions and millions of ordinary people,” he said.

“Sudan is a living nightmare. The violence needs to stop.”

– ‘Massive’ UXO contamination –

After visiting Khartoum and the Egyptian border, Mamadou Dian Balde, the UNHCR’s regional refugee coordinator for the Sudan crisis, said people were coming back to destroyed public infrastructure, making rebuilding their lives extremely challenging.

Those returning from Egypt were typically coming back “empty handed”, he said, speaking from Nairobi.

Luca Renda, UNDP’s resident representative in Sudan, warned of further cholera outbreaks in Khartoum if broken services were not restored.

“What we need is for the international community to support us,” he said.

Renda said around 1,700 wells needed rehabilitating, while at least six Khartoum hospitals and at least 35 schools needed urgent repairs.

He also sounded the alarm on the “massive” amount of unexploded ordnance littering the city and the need for decontamination.

He said anti-personnel mines had also been found in at least five locations in Khartoum.

“It will take years to fully decontaminate the city,” he said, speaking from Port Sudan.