An Analysis Based on the “Ten Stages of Genocide”
By Bhaswati Bhattacharjee
Families escaping Ardamata in West Darfur cross into Adre, Chad, after a wave of ethnic violence, November 7, 2023. Survivors recounted executions and looting in Ardamata, which they said were carried out by RSF and allied Arab militias. © 2023 REUTERS/El Tayeb Siddig
The conflict in Sudan, marked by widespread violence, systemic human rights abuses, and potential acts of genocide, has largely been overshadowed by global attention to other crises. Yet, the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Sudan demands urgent and sustained international focus.
This special report brings to light the severity and intricacies of the situation in Sudan, emphasizing the genocidal acts against the Masalit and other non-Arab communities. By applying Dr. Gregory H. Stanton's ten
stages of genocide model, the report offers a comprehensive analysis of the ongoing atrocities.
Adam Mousa Obama, from the group Darfur Victim Support, said, “There is a genocide going on in West Darfur.” In the words of Alice Wairimu Nderitu, the United Nations Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, “risks of genocide and related atrocity crimes in the region remain grimly high.”
It serves as a crucial call to action for the international community to recognize, intervene, and prevent further escalation of the violence. Without such documentation and advocacy, the plight of the Sudanese people risks being neglected, allowing the cycle of violence and impunity to continue unchallenged. This report aims to break this cycle, urging decisive action to protect vulnerable populations and ensure justice for the victims.
In July 2023 and October 2023, Genocide Watch declared that a genocide was being committed against the Masalit by the RSF in West Darfur. Genocide Watch issued Genocide Emergency Alerts. Genocide Watch called for re-establishment of an armed UN/AU Peacekeeping Mission in Darfur, Sudan to stop the genocide.
The report begins with highlighting the urgent need for global attention to the conflict, particularly the atrocities against the Masalit and other non-Arab communities.
Chapter 1 provides an overview of the conflict, which erupted on April 15, 2023, between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), resulting in thousands of deaths and massive displacement.
Chapter 2 delves into the historical background of Sudan’s civil wars and the formation of the RSF.
Chapter 3 discusses the genocidal actions of the RSF against ethnic groups in Darfur, applying Dr. Gregory H. Stanton’s ten stages of genocide to the current situation.
Chapter 4 calls for international action, including expanded humanitarian aid, robust peacekeeping missions, and sanctions against enablers of the conflict.
The report aims to raise awareness and mobilize a decisive global response to stop the unfolding genocide in Sudan.