Amnesty Intl accuses Sudanese gov’t of using chemical weapons

Insight

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The United Nations calls one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world that the region is located in western Sudan.

For more than 13 years, it’s been wracked by a civil war. And, Amnesty International said this year that the government has taken its tactics to a whole new level of brutality.

CCTV America’s Frances Kuo reports.

Human rights group Amnesty International said Sudanese government is using chemical attacks on its own people and killing as many as 250.

The findings are from an eight month investigation based on 200 interviews and satellite imagery. Amnesty believes there have been at least 30 such chemical attacks since January in Darfur’s Jebel Marra region.

Sudan’s government called the accusations false and unfounded.

Darfur has been torn apart by a brutal civil war for more than a decade after two rebel groups rose up against the government accusing it of neglect.

The government quickly crushed the revolt. But since 2013, fighting has flared again among government troops and their supporters and rebel groups.

The United Nations estimates the conflict has killed more than 300,000 and displaced more than 2.5 million.

Many live in regions where access to humanitarian aid is limited. Sudan’s president, Omar al-Bashir, is wanted by the international crime court for crimes against humanity, including genocide. But he remains in power and travels freely.

A joint force of the United Nations and African Union has been stationed in Darfur since 2007. But critics said they and the international community aren’t doing enough.


Michael Clyne on international efforts in Darfur crisis

For more on international efforts to manage the crisis in Darfur, CCTV America’s Mike Walter spoke to Michael Clyne, an analyst focusing on issues in Africa.