The United Nations Human Rights Office has raised alarms about the escalating risks faced by civilians in Sudan, particularly due to targeted ethnic violence in the Al Jazirah region. The UN’s chief spokesperson, Ravina Shamdasani, expressed growing concern over the dangerous situation, which has intensified the ongoing conflict in the capital, Khartoum.
During a press briefing in Geneva on Friday, January 17, Shamdasani described the situation as increasingly perilous, citing reports of brutal killings linked to ethnically motivated attacks in Al Jazirah. These attacks are now compounding the violence that has already ravaged Khartoum for nearly two years. She highlighted that there were indications of an impending struggle for control of Khartoum, which could further endanger civilians.

“The level of brutality and the nature of these ethnic attacks are becoming more concerning. Entire communities are being targeted based on their ethnic identity, whether real or perceived,” Shamdasani said. “This growing cycle of retaliatory violence, hate speech, and incitement to further conflict must cease immediately.”
Shamdasani called on Sudan’s leaders, including the President of the Transitional Sovereign Council and the Commander of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), to take urgent action to stop the violence. She emphasized that both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF are responsible for the conduct of their forces and fighters on the ground.
In a tragic update on January 13, drone strikes in Omdurman, a city near Khartoum, killed at least 120 civilians and injured more than 150 others, deepening the crisis. The UN has strongly condemned these attacks and reiterated the need for an immediate end to the violence to prevent further loss of life.