Sudan militia's brutal attacks kill 124 near Khartoum
- The Rapid Support Forces have been implicated in serious abuses, including mass killings and sexual violence, during recent attacks in Sudan's el-Gezira state.
- Recent reports indicate that 124 individuals have died, with 47,000 displaced from their homes following these assaults on numerous villages.
- This pattern of violence has drawn parallels to earlier atrocities in Darfur, raising significant concern among humanitarian organizations regarding civilian safety.
Sudan has witnessed a surge in violence with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) accused of committing heinous crimes against civilians, including mass killings and sexual violence, over the past week. Reports indicate that at least 124 individuals have been killed and many others wounded during an attack on al-Suhra village, south of Khartoum. The escalation started after key RSF commander Abu Aqleh Keikal reportedly defected to government forces on October 20, triggering retaliatory violence against civilians, particularly targeting the Shukriya tribal group. The United Nations has expressed grave concerns, citing gross human rights abuses linked to the RSF’s actions. Approximately 47,000 people have been displaced from their homes due to these attacks, and more than 30 villages have suffered violence, indicating a significant humanitarian crisis. The ongoing conflict between the Sudanese army and the RSF has left the region in turmoil since April 2023, complicating aid delivery and worsening conditions for displaced populations. In addition, famine has been declared in the Zamzam displacement camp in Darfur amid warnings that extreme hunger could spread without humanitarian access. The UN's humanitarian coordinator for Sudan highlighted the alarming parallel between the current violence and the atrocities committed by the RSF in Darfur, raising fears that similar patterns of targeted violence are emerging in el-Gezira state. Overall, the situation in Sudan may reflect a deeper ongoing crisis, as both the RSF and the Sudanese army continue vying for dominance, exacerbating the suffering of innocent civilians caught in the crossfire.