Türk urged all actors with influence, including regional powers and arms suppliers, to take urgent steps to halt a war that has devastated the nation.
Speaking in Nairobi on Sunday after a five‑day mission to Sudan, Türk said “a chronicle of cruelty is unfolding before our very eyes,” nearly three years after fighting erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Türk last visited Sudan in 2022, when he was inspired by the energy of civil society, particularly the young people and women who helped lead the 2018 revolution. Despite the horrors of the current conflict, he said that “the spirit of the struggle for peace, justice and freedom is not broken.”
During his visit, Türk met community groups, including young volunteers who continue delivering aid “in the face of bureaucratic hurdles, detention and violence”.
He voiced deep concern over systematic attacks on civilian infrastructure. The Merowe dam and hydroelectric power station, previously responsible for 70% of Sudan’s electricity supply, has been repeatedly targeted by drone strikes attributed to the RSF.
He also heard testimonies from displaced people in Al Afad camp, 1 200 kilometres from El Fasher, the besieged North Darfur city, from which many had fled. Among them were young children suffering trauma and injuries. One woman recounted losing her husband and son before being injured herself.
Türk condemned the widespread use of sexual violence as a weapon of war, noting that women and girls’ bodies have been “weaponised”. He also highlighted reports of summary executions, child recruitment, and the arming of civilians.
The High Commissioner warned that atrocities committed in El Fasher risk being replicated in the Kordofan region, where fighting has escalated since October. He raised alarm over famine-like conditions, particularly in Kadugli and surrounding towns.
Türk criticised the proliferation of advanced weaponry, calling it “despicable” that money was being spent on arms instead of alleviating human suffering.
He urged all parties to guarantee safe passage for civilians, protect critical infrastructure, and allow unhindered humanitarian assistance. Ensuring humane treatment of detainees, clarifying the fate of missing persons, and releasing civilians held for alleged collaboration were immediate priorities, he said.
Türk repeated his plea for warring factions to “set aside entrenched positions, power games and personal interests” and refocus on the collective well-being of the Sudanese people.
“Human rights must be at the centre of efforts to end this war and rebuild lasting peace,” he said, adding that while the challenge is immense, it is “not impossible, given the resilience of the Sudanese people.”
–UN/ChannelAfrica–
