UN Report on Hallmarks of Genocide in Sudan

 The UN Human Rights Council published on 8 July 2026 a 26-page report titled "Information Supplementing the Report 'Sudan: Hallmarks of Genocide in El Fasher'."

This report provides detailed references not included in the initial 19 February 2026 report and additional information that the UN Human Rights Council gathered following continued investigations since the publication of the original report.  

It also helps develop the legal basis for the conclusions that were drawn in the original report, that the mass killings and related atrocities committed by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in and around El Fasher were indicators of a genocidal path.

Sudan: Ethnic Cleansing in West Darfur

 Human Rights Watch published on 9 May 2024 a 218-page report titled "'The Massalit Will Not Come Home': Ethnic Cleansing and Crimes Against Humanity in El-Geneina, West Darfur, Sudan."

The report documents that the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and their allied mainly Arab militias, including the Third-Front Tamazuj, an armed group, targeted the predominantly Masalit neighborhoods of El Geneina in relentless waves that began in April 2023.  The attackers committed other serious abuses such as torture, rape, and looting.  More than half a million refugees from West Darfur have fled to Chad since the beginning of this violence.

UN Committee Issues Report on Human Rights Abuses in Ethiopia

 The United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner issued a detailed report on 5 May 2023 by experts of the UN Committee against Torture on human rights violations in Tigray and abuses of refugees from Eritrea.  

The report cites human rights abuses by various persons involved in the conflict in Tigray Region, including the allegation that "Amhara authorities had been engaged in what some civil society organizations described as 'ethnic cleansing' in western Tigray."

Ethnic Cleansing in Ethiopia's Western Tigray Zone

 Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch published on 6 April 2022 a report titled "'We Will Erase You from This Land': Crimes against Humanity and Ethnic Cleansing in Ethiopia's Western Tigray Zone."

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch found that Amhara regional officials and regional special forces and militias, with federal forces complicity, are responsible for the ethnic cleansing of Tigrayans from Western Tigray.  Although not a formal legal term, ethnic cleansing has been defined as a purposeful policy by an ethnic or religious group to remove, by violent and terror-inspiring means, the civilian population of another ethnic or religious group from certain geographic areas.  

Tigrayan Forces Accused of War Crimes

 Amnesty International published on 16 February 2022 a report titled "Ethiopia: Summary Killings, Rape and Looting by Tigrayan Forces in Amhara."

Amnesty International reports that Tigrayan forces showed utter disregard for fundamental rules of international humanitarian law.  Evidence is mounting of a pattern of Tigrayan forces committing war crimes and possible crimes against humanity in areas under their control in Amhara region from July 2021 onwards.

Charges against Tigrayan Fighters in Amhara Region

 Amnesty International published on 9 November 2021 a report titled "Ethiopia: Survivors of TPLF Attack in Amhara Describe Gang Rape, Looting and Physical Assaults."

Earlier accounts of rape and atrocities in Tigray Region by ENDF and Eritrean forces are now being replaced by accounts of the same kind of activity in Amhara Region by Tigrayan forces, according to women interviewed by Amnesty International.  

Sexual Violence and the War in Tigray

 Lawfare published on 16 June 2021 a study titled "Sexual Violence and the War in Tigray" by Hilary Matfess, University of Denver.

This piece takes an academic approach to the issue of rape and sexual violence in Ethiopia's Tigray Region by Eritrean Defense Forces, Ethiopian National Defense Forces, and Amhara militia.  

Eritrean Troops in Tigray: Atrocities Continue

 The Associated Press published on 28 May 2021 an article titled "'Our Season': Eritrea Troops Kill, Rape, Loot in Tigray" by Rodney Muhumuza.  

Drawing on interviews with Tigrayans, the article concludes there can be no peace in Ethiopia's Tigray Region until Eritrean forces return to Eritrea.  

For a longer version of this reporting, see the Pulitzer Center account here.

Ethiopia: The Rape of Tigray

 Reuters published on 15 April 2021 a story titled "Special Report: Health Official Alleges 'Sexual Slavery' in Tigray; Women Blame Soldiers" by Katharine Houreld.

This is an unspeakable account of systematic rape in Tigray region by Ethiopian and Eritrean soldiers.

Comment:  Blame for the outbreak of conflict in Tigray can be determined later and the guilty parties brought to account.  But there is no excuse for the continuation of the war crimes described in this article, which have also been documented elsewhere.  Enough is enough.  Why does Ethiopia's leadership allow Eritrean troops to remain in the country?  Why does the leadership of the Ethiopian National Defense Force not put an end to the raping of women in Tigray?    

AP Account of Ethnic Cleansing in Tigray Region

 The Associated Press published on 7 April 2021 an account titled "'Leave No Tigrayan': In Ethiopia, An Ethnicity Is Erased" by Cara Anna and Nariman El-Mofty.

Based primarily on interviews with Tigrayans who fled to neighboring Sudan, this is a difficult to read account of attacks on Tigrayans in western Tigray Region.

Collapse of Health Care System in Tigray Region

 The Lancet published on 10 April 2021 an article titled "Tigray Atrocities Compounded by Lack of Health Care" by Sharmila Devi.  

The author says there has been almost a total collapse of the health care system in Ethiopia's Tigray Region as a result of the conflict there.  

Rape as a Weapon in Ethiopia's Tigray

 The New York Times published on 1 April 2021 an article titled "'They Told Us Not to Resist': Violence Pervades Ethiopia's War" by Declan Walsh.

This is an account of victims of rape in the ongoing war in Ethiopia's Tigray Region.  

South Sudan: Brutal Human Rights Report

The UN Human Rights Office published on 11 March 2016 a report on South Sudan that contains charges of horrendous human rights violations, including a Government-sponsored scorched earth policy and deliberate targeting of civilians for killing, rape and pillage.  The human rights violations continued throughout 2015. 

Violence against Women: the Situation in Ethiopia

Pambazuka News published on 11 December 2014 a commentary titled "Violence against Women: We Must End this Scourge" by Rediet Yibekal, a graduate student at the University of Gothenburg in  Sweden. 

The author acknowledges that violence against women is a global problem but having grown up in Ethiopia focuses on the situation there. 

Somali President Visits Washington

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mahamud is visiting Washington where he met on 17 January 2013 with President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton.  During the visit, the United States formally recognized the government of Somalia.  He addressed a public audience at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) for one hour and 23 minutes.  This event included a lengthy and frank question and answer session. 

In his remarks at CSIS, Mahamud expressed effusive praise for the support of the United States dating back to the humanitarian intervention in the early 1990s.  He singled out Turkey for its recent support to Somalia, citing Turkey's efforts above all others in helping Somalia get back on its feet. 

He addressed the role of neighbors Djibouti, Ethiopia and Kenya in Somalia.  He noted that Djibouti has always been a friend of Somalia.  Relations with Kenya date back only about 50 years but today Kenya is the "go to place" for Somalis.  He acknowledged that the 600 year plus relationship with Ethiopia has been marked by hate, conflict and violence.  He emphasized that it is time to reverse this history and called for the development of good relations with Ethiopia.  In talks with senior Ethiopian officials, Mahamud said Ethiopia has pledged to work for good relations with Somalia. 

Click here to watch the entire video of President Mahamud's remarks.