In brief
A senior UN official has raised the alarm over horrific events in Sudan's Gezira state, where the Rapid Support Forces are accused of mass killings and human rights violations against civilians amid ongoing conflict.
Clementine Nkweta-Salami, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, expressed profound concern following reports of "atrocious crimes" committed in Gezira state. Activist groups have claimed that at least 124 civilians were killed within just a week by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The RSF, however, has denied allegations of targeting civilians, asserting that they are engaged in battles against militarized militias supported by the Sudanese army.The violence has escalated in the 18-month conflict that has claimed tens of thousands of lives and forced over 11 million people to flee their homes. Recently, Gezira became a focal point of conflict after a significant defection from the RSF, with one of its commanders, Abu Aqla Kayka, reportedly joining forces with the military, possibly altering the balance of power in the region. In response to the mounting violence, the RSF threatened to actively defend themselves against any armed opposition. Nkweta-Salami indicated that preliminary reports of mass killings, along with incidents of widespread sexual violence and looting, suggest parallels to previous conflicts in Sudan's Darfur region, where similar accusations of "ethnic cleansing" had been levied against the RSF.The Wad Madani Resistance Committee, advocating for democratic governance, has denounced the RSF's actions as "extensive massacres." Moreover, the Sudanese doctors' union has urged UN intervention to establish safe humanitarian corridors for towns besieged by what they term "genocide." They have expressed concerns over the inability of the army to protect civilians, emphasizing the dire need for rescue operations amidst the turmoil.The onset of the conflict in April 2023 arose from a power struggle between RSF leader Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo and army chief Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who had previously collaborated in a coup that hindered Sudan’s transition to democracy. Despite ongoing international efforts, including attempts by the US and Saudi Arabia to mediate peace negotiations, the two leaders have yet to agree on a settlement to end the violence.
