South Sudan International Advocacy for Human Rights (SSIAHR)
Press release
Subject: A Call to Action: Condemning the Massacre of South Sudanese Refugees in Medani, Gezira State
January 21, 2025 (SSNA) — The South Sudan International Advocacy for Human Rights (SSIAHR) unequivocally condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the barbaric massacre of South Sudanese refugees in Medani, Gezira State, Sudan, carried out by the Sudanese armed forces on January 12, 2025. This heinous act, captured on camera, revealed the indiscriminate slaughter of innocent teenagers, men, and women—human lives extinguished in an unimaginable act of cruelty.
These victims were not merely numbers or faceless refugees. They were individuals who had already endured unspeakable horrors, fleeing the Juba Genocide of December 15, 2013, to seek refuge in Sudan. Once again, these survivors have found themselves ensnared in a cycle of violence, with no safe havens in sight. Since the outbreak of war on April 15, 2023, their precarious existence has become one of constant fear, unable to return to South Sudan, and vulnerable to relentless persecution in Sudan.
The international community, including the United Nations, the African Union, the Red Cross, and the United States, cannot turn a blind eye to this atrocity. SSIAHR demands immediate intervention to facilitate the evacuation of South Sudanese refugees stranded in Sudanese cities, where their safety and dignity remain under threat. Their plight cannot be ignored.
Furthermore, we call upon the United Nations Human Rights Council to launch a thorough and independent investigation into these mass killings. Accountability must be demanded of those responsible for this massacre, and the perpetrators must face justice for their crimes against humanity.
This tragedy is a stark reminder of the urgent need for a coordinated international effort to protect vulnerable populations and prevent further atrocities. We implore global leaders to act swiftly, decisively, and compassionately to uphold the principles of human rights and justice.
The voices of the massacred cry out for justice. Let their suffering not be in vain. The time to act is now.
Regards,
Gatkuoth “Peter” Kuel, President