New wave of mass killings in Sudan alarms UN
A senior UN official in Sudan has expressed deep concern over reports of “atrocious crimes” occurring in the central Gezira state, including reports of mass killings of civilians attributed to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Clementine Nkweta-Salami’s comments follow claims from an activist group stating that at least 124 people were killed by the RSF during recent attacks on villages.
The RSF has denied targeting civilians, asserting that its fighters are engaged in clashes with militias backed by the military. The ongoing conflict in Sudan, which has lasted 18 months, has already resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands and displaced over 11 million individuals.
Last week, Gezira state became a significant battleground, especially after a major setback for the RSF when one of its commanders, Abu Aqla Kayka, defected to the military. The army claimed that he brought “a large number of his forces” with him, marking a notable high-profile defection. In retaliation, the RSF asserted that its fighters would defend themselves and would “decisively deal with everyone carrying arms.”
Ms. Nkweta-Salami, who serves as the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, revealed that preliminary reports indicated the RSF launched extensive attacks across the state between October 20 and 25. These assaults allegedly led to mass killings, sexual violence against women and girls, widespread looting of markets and homes, and the destruction of farms.
She commented on the scale of these “atrocious crimes,” noting that they resemble those seen in Sudan’s Darfur region last year, where the RSF faced accusations of “ethnic cleansing” against communities viewed as adversaries. While the exact death toll remains unclear, initial reports suggest that numerous people were killed in Gezira state.
On Saturday, the Wad Madani Resistance Committee, which advocates for an end to the conflict and the establishment of democratic governance in Sudan, accused the RSF of committing “extensive massacres in one village after another.” Concurrently, the Sudanese doctors’ union called on the UN to pressure both conflicting sides to establish safe humanitarian corridors into villages experiencing “genocide” at the hands of the RSF. The union emphasized that rescue operations had become impossible and criticized the army’s inability to protect civilians.
The conflict in Sudan erupted in April 2023 following a fallout between RSF Commander Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo and military leader Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. The two had previously collaborated in a coup in 2021, which derailed the country’s transition to democracy, and have since engaged in a brutal struggle for power. Despite ongoing efforts by the US and Saudi Arabia to broker a peace deal, both leaders have thus far refused to sign any agreement.