Desolation in Khartoum: A Civil War's Gripping Toll on Civilians

The struggle for control in Khartoum has resulted in brutal violence against civilians, with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) accused of committing atrocities while retreating from advancing military forces, causing deepening despair among the populace.

The ongoing civil war in Sudan has plunged the capital city, Khartoum, into a state of chaos, as described by residents and witnesses who have shared harrowing accounts of violence and suffering. Since the conflict reignited nearly two years ago, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have maintained an iron grip on the city, but recent military advances suggest the army is reclaiming significant territory and seeks to tighten its control over the capital.

As military forces continue their offensive from the south, vast swathes of the reclaimed territory reveal alarming destruction—a testament to the fierce battles that have erupted. Streets once filled with life now lie in ruins, with countless buildings marred by fire and bullet holes, leaving residents to sift through debris that includes vandalised vehicles and remnants of looting.

In the Haj Yusuf district, residents have recounted terrifying experiences as RSF forces turned on civilians in their desperation to retreat. In one tragic incident, 21-year-old Mudather and his friend were shot by RSF soldiers—an act of brutality witnessed by their mother, Intisar Adam Suleiman, who tried in vain to protect her sons as chaos ensued. "I've become used to these traumas," she lamented, struggling to cope with unbearable loss.

Asma Mubarak Abdel Karim, another resident, described the horror faced by women in the clash, where a retreating RSF fighter assaulted and raped a woman at gunpoint while others were left to watch in terror. Despite these testimonies, an RSF spokesperson rejected allegations of wrongdoing, emphasizing that the forces had controlled the area without major crimes until the government's intervention.

Military spokespersons accuse the RSF of widespread atrocities while alarming reports of severe human rights violations—including mass rape and ethnic cleansing—have caught the attention of international observers, leading to widespread condemnation. Amidst this turmoil, the elite of the RSF have fled the affluent Karfuri suburb, leaving behind a ghost of their once opulent lives, echoed in empty homes and emptied swimming pools.

Meanwhile, the military is leveraging propaganda tactics, dropping leaflets urging remaining RSF fighters to abandon their posts in exchange for safety, aiming to diminish resistance without further violent encounters. Civilians are caught in a harrowing limbo, as shelling disrupts their safety in areas that have seen relative calm but remain scarred from past violence.

Older residents like Hussein Abbas reflect on the years of displacement and suffering, feeling the weight of nostalgia as they return to their neighborhoods. Despite the military's advances, the path to stability remains uncertain as survivors grapple with the destruction of their homes, the enormity of their loss, and the haunting memories of what was once their lives.

As locals begin to return and assess the damage, the true magnitude of the suffering experienced during these turbulent times is only beginning to settle.