Condemnation for the Rapid Support Forces’ Targeting of Merowe Dam and Power Stations

The National Trend

Press Release

Condemnation for the Rapid Support Forces’ Targeting of Merowe Dam and Power Stations

The National Trend strongly condemns the terrorist acts committed by the Rapid Support Forces at dawn on Monday, January 13, 2025, through their targeting of the Merowe Dam, electricity production stations, and related power generation and distribution facilities.

These actions constitute a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law, amount to war crimes under international standards and laws, and further confirm that this militia has disregarded humanitarian and global norms from the very first day of this war, which has inflicted immense harm on the lives and resources of the Sudanese people.

Targeting a civilian facility like the Merowe Dam represents a violation of several agreements, treaties, and laws, most notably:

• The 1949 Geneva Conventions and Additional Protocol I of 1977, specifically Article 56, which states: “Attacks on dams, dykes, and nuclear power plants are prohibited if such attacks may cause the release of dangerous forces and consequent severe losses among the civilian population.”

• Attacking water dams and power stations directly endangers civilian lives by depriving them of essential water and electricity resources, categorizing such acts as grave crimes against humanity.

• Violation of the principle of distinction in armed conflicts, as stipulated in Article 48 of Additional Protocol I, which obliges parties to distinguish between military objectives and civilians or civilian objects to ensure that attacks are solely directed at military targets.

• Targeting the dam constitutes a war crime under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (1998), specifically Article 8(2)(b)(ii), which states: “Intentionally directing attacks against civilian objects that are not military objectives constitutes a war crime.” Thus, the attack on the dam and power stations, which are vital civilian facilities, falls under this legal provision.

These attacks endanger the lives of thousands of civilians, threaten water and electricity security, and exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in Sudan.

Furthermore, they represent a complete war crime that necessitates holding the perpetrators accountable before international justice.

We call on the international community, including the United Nations Security Council and the International Criminal Court, to condemn these crimes, launch an immediate investigation into the targeting of the Merowe Dam and power stations, and bring those responsible for these actions to justice on charges of committing war crimes and violating international humanitarian law. Additionally, we urge international and regional parties to take urgent measures to protect civilian infrastructure and prevent such violations from recurring.

Finally, we reaffirm our commitment to defending the rights of the Sudanese people and our call for achieving international justice to hold accountable those responsible for these crimes that threaten Sudan’s sovereignty and security.

The National Trend
January 13, 2025