The Sudanese Alliance for Rights strongly condemns the devastating airstrike carried out by Sudanese army warplanes on the Abu Haraz area in North Kordofan State on Saturday, April 19, 2025, which killed and injured numerous innocent civilians, displaced many families, and caused widespread destruction to homes and civilian infrastructure.
The Alliance expresses its deep concern over the targeting of populated areas and civilian infrastructure, a dangerous escalation in the ongoing pattern of attacks against civilians, as Abu Haraz has become a disaster zone gripped by destruction, widespread fear, and mass displacement.
This airstrike constitutes a serious violation of multiple international laws and conventions, including:
- International Humanitarian Law: Targeting an area inhabited by civilians who are not engaged in hostilities constitutes a direct breach of the Geneva Conventions, which explicitly prohibit attacks on civilians and civilian objects during armed conflict.
- Customary International Law: This law prohibits attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure and obliges all parties to a conflict to take every feasible precaution to protect civilians from the effects of hostilities.
- International Human Rights Law: Several fundamental rights have been violated, most notably the right to life and the right to an adequate standard of living, as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
- The African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights: This airstrike directly violates several provisions of the Charter, including the right to life (Article 4), the protection of the family (Article 18), and the right to a satisfactory and healthy environment (Article 24).
The Sudanese Alliance for Rights urgently demands an independent international investigation into this airstrike, accountability for those responsible, and fair compensation for the victims and affected families.
The alliance further calls for the immediate cessation of aerial assaults on civilian areas, in full compliance with international humanitarian law and to protect civilian lives.
As part of its ongoing commitment to human rights, the alliance will conduct a comprehensive investigation into the incident to uncover all details and document the violations committed.
We extend our heartfelt condolences and solidarity to the families of the victims and affected communities, and reaffirm our unwavering commitment to the pursuit of justice, accountability, and the protection of human rights in Sudan.
Sudanese Alliance for Rights – April 20, 2025
