Human Rights in Sudan & Ethiopia: The human toll of two conflicts

Ethiopia and Sudan—two of East Africa’s most populous countries—are currently experiencing some of the region’s most devastating internal conflicts. Ethiopia has faced recurrent internal crises since November 2020, while Sudan plunged into full-scale civil war in April 2023 after a violent power struggle erupted between the national army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). In Sudan, the conflict has fueled famine and generated widespread allegations of genocide in the Darfur region, alongside growing international concern for civilians in el-Fasher following its recent capture by RSF forces.

The United Nations has described what is happening in the region as the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. Yet despite the scale and severity of these emergencies, the suffering of civilians has received comparatively limited attention from the international community and within academic discourse.

Speakers

Mohamed Osman
Researcher, Africa, Human Rights Watch

Dr. Birhan Mesele Belete
Medical doctor, public health scholar, lecturer, researcher from Ethiopia and a human rights advocate.

Bantayehu Shiferaw Chanie
Adjunct Professor, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs (GSPIA), Faculty of Social Sciences & Fellow, Human Rights Research and Education Centre (HRREC), University of Ottawa

Introducing the speakers | Alex Addisalem
Ph.D. Candidate in law and student member, Human Rights Research and Education Centre (HRREC), University of Ottawa

Moderator | Penelope Simons
Director, Human Rights Research and Education Centre (HRREC) & Full Professor, Faculty of Law, Common Law Section, University of Ottawa