Sudan

Low intensity armed conflicts continue between government forces and armed opposition groups in Darfur, Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile states. In recent years, government forces have attacked, killed, and raped civilians and looted and destroyed their property in violation of the laws of war, and forced hundreds of thousands to flee their homes. Nearly one third of Darfur’s population still live in displaced persons camps or as refugees in Chad and elsewhere. Across the country, authorities arbitrarily detain political activists and ill-treat and torture them; use unjustified lethal force against anti-government protesters; censor the media; and restrict religious freedoms.  Despite these abuses and the International Criminal Court warrant for the arrest of President Omar al-Bashir for crimes in Darfur, the United States and European Union have renewed support for the Sudanese government citing cooperation in counterterrorism and migration control.