The UK asserts ethnic cleansing has taken place in Darfur during the Sudan conflict

The BBC has obtained new evidence regarding the brutal ethnic violence that has engulfed western Sudan since the conflict broke out between two rival military factions in April. Analysis of satellite imagery and social media data has revealed that armed militias have set fire to at least 68 villages in the Darfur region as part of the ongoing civil war. UK Minister for Africa, Andrew Mitchell, has stated that this situation bears "all the hallmarks of ethnic cleansing," marking the first time the British government has used this term to describe the events occurring in Sudan. The analysis, carried out by the Centre for Information Resilience (CIR), a research organization partially funded by the British government, focuses on collecting open-source evidence about the fighting in Sudan. Utilizing Nasa heat-recognition technology, the CIR is able to identify fires, examining satellite images to detect signs of smoke and burned-out buildings. This information is then matched with ground-level images from social media, with the aid of maps and photos for geolocation purposes. One recent incident involved a convoy of militias setting fire to nine villages in a single day using this methodology. The CIR determined the location of possible fires using Nasa technology and then used satellite imagery to confirm that these fires were associated with known population settlements. The organization also analyzed social media content showing armed militias torching villages and looting goods. By examining what the fighters were saying and wearing, the CIR was able to identify affiliations such as the Bani Halba Arab group, loosely linked to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The CIR's investigations director, Ben Strick, emphasizes the magnitude of their findings, documenting 89 fires that damaged 68 villages since April 15th. The impact on civilians is significant, with entire villages being wiped out alongside smaller, targeted buildings. The violence predominantly occurs in Darfur, but it also includes conflicts between rival Arab groups and attacks on non-Arab ethnic groups, such as the Massalit. Amin Yakubu, a Darfur resident, recounts his family's experience of fleeing their home due to attacks by Arab militias. He describes witnessing the death of a friend and the need to step over bodies to escape. Yakubu currently resides in a refugee camp in Chad and highlights the ethnic nature of the conflict, highlighting the impact on everyone in the area. The conflict in Darfur has brought back memories of the violence that occurred 20 years ago, with hundreds of thousands losing their lives during clashes between non-Arab rebel groups and the Janjaweed militia, which later evolved into the RSF. Some Janjaweed leaders, including former President Omar al-Bashir, have faced charges of genocide and crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court (ICC). The UN has expressed deep concern about the recent events in Sudan, with reports of sexual and gender-based violence, enforced disappearances, arbitrary detention, and grave human rights violations. The CIR aims to accumulate evidence that could contribute to holding those responsible accountable. They plan to maintain a public website continuously updated with their findings. Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, leader of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), one faction involved in the conflict, has stated that he is willing to cooperate with the ICC and anyone else who can help bring these criminals to justice. The fighting that began in April has resulted in over 7,000 fatalities and over five million people being displaced from their homes. Approximately half of Sudan's population, around 24 million people, require humanitarian assistance. There is growing concern that the conflict could spill over into neighboring countries and increase regional tensions. There are also reports suggesting that the United Arab Emirates has been supplying weapons to the RSF, which Emirati officials have denied.