A/HRC/45/53 56. Credible reports indicate that in the period from March to May 2020, more civilians were killed in intercommunal conflicts than in armed clashes between government forces and armed movements. Reportedly, armed Arab nomads attacked Regel Mekhit village in Tawilla locality, North Darfur, on 29 March and set houses on fire, displacing 40 families. The police force reportedly took no action. In another incident in Singita village, Kass locality in South Darfur, a dispute between the Tarjam and Zaghawa tribes resulted in the killing of 11 Tarjam civilians, the injuring of 11 others, and the reported theft of 200 cattle from the village. On 23 April, the Sudan Armed Forces and the Kass High Reconciliation Tribe Committee deployed to Singita to de-escalate and help reconcile the conflicting communities. On 5 and 6 May, fighting erupted between the Fallata and Rezeigat tribes in Murraya village, Tulus locality, South Darfur and extended to neighbouring villages, resulting in the displacement of approximately 200 Fallata, and leaving 60 civilians dead and at least 150 injured. The Independent Expert is concerned that as in previous intercommunal clashes, reconciliation is prioritized over accountability for the killing, injuries and destruction of civilian property. The recurrence of these clashes is more probable than not, in part owing to the proliferation of weapons and deeply entrenched grievances. 57. The Independent Expert received credible information that unidentified persons believed to be internally displaced persons from Kalma camp in South Darfur fired shots at a vehicle driving through the camp on 10 June 2020. Two men on board the vehicle were killed and one was injured. The victims, confirmed to be plain-clothed Rapid Support Forces personnel, were driving from Nyala to El Daein and reportedly lost their way and drove through Sector 2 of Kalma. Following the incident, at least 50 armed men – who were believed to be from the Reizeigat tribe, the same tribe the victims belonged to – gathered outside the camp and demanded the handover of the perpetrators. The Government and UNAMID deployed troops around the camp to prevent a retaliation attack. UNAMID also deployed the Formed Police Unit to patrol inside the Kalma camp, creating a safety buffer zone. A government investigation committee has been established to bring the perpetrators to justice. UNAMID held a series of meetings with community leaders at Kalma to de-escalate the situation and to urge them to hand the alleged perpetrators over to law enforcement authorities. As of the time of this report, the perpetrators had not been handed over. 58. The Independent Expert expresses concern at reports of the continued prevalence of sexual violence in Darfur. The majority of the victims are women and children who are internally displaced persons and who are usually attacked when they leave the camps to conduct income-generating activities or to collect firewood or grass. According to available information, alleged perpetrators include governmental forces; fighters and splinter groups of the Sudan Liberation Movement-Abdul Wahid; armed militia; and individuals. The majority of incidents are often unreported, owing to fear of the social stigma associated with rape and to the weakness of the justice system to respond to sexual violence. On some occasions, victims choose not to file complaints because in most cases, they claim that the police cannot or will not take appropriate action against perpetrators. 59. Despite the progress made, in particular with regard to the delisting of the Sudan from the United Nations list of countries recruiting and using children in conflicts, the Independent Expert expresses concern over the rights, welfare and safety of children with continued vulnerabilities. Children continue to be killed and maimed in the context of attacks against civilians in the Jebel Marra area, and they also continue to suffer the detrimental effects caused by explosive remnants of war. As armed clashes continue to erupt in Jebel Marra, children, mostly boys, have been abducted to be used for forced child labour and as child fighters. The recruitment of child soldiers is still ongoing in Darfur, albeit at a much slower rate. Conflict-related rape and sexual violence against children remain a concern, especially as children are exposed to sexual violence during livelihood activities. 60. The Independent Expert takes note of the efforts of the authorities of Darfur State to promote an agenda of permanent return of internally displaced persons to their homes of origin. While the Independent Expert recognizes that voluntary return is one durable solution for displaced persons, the ongoing conflict and general insecurity provide little 12

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