by Sonia Morland
At the same time that South Sudan celebrated its independence on 9th July, clashes between Nuba rebels and government forces in Sudan’s South Kordofan were verging on alleged ethnic cleansing.
A recent UN report has revealed that the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) may be guilty of war crimes in South Kordofan, one of Sudan’s poorest regions. According to witness reports, SAF have bombed villages, executed rebel soldiers and killed civilians, in an attempt to defeat Nuba rebels, who come from a range of Muslim, Christian and traditional tribes, all speaking different languages. Satellite pictures moroever seem to indicate that there are three mass graves in South Kordofan, leading to fears that ethnic cleansing is taking place. 73,000 people have fled South Kordofan since 5th June.