In brief
The conflict in Sudan's Gezira state has intensified, resulting in severe human rights violations, including mass killings by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), as UN officials and local organizations call for urgent humanitarian interventions amid the violence.
In the midst of escalating violence in Sudan, the United Nations has reported alarming incidents of mass killings, particularly in the central region of Gezira state. Clementine Nkweta-Salami, a senior UN official, expressed her grave concerns over what has been described as "atrocious crimes" committed by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which include the reported deaths of at least 124 civilians in recent attacks on villages. The RSF has contested these allegations, asserting that their operations only involve clashes with military-armed militias rather than targeting non-combatants.The ongoing conflict, which erupted in April 2023, has already resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands and the displacement of over 11 million Sudanese. On the ground, Gezira state swiftly evolved into a conflict zone following the defection of RSF commander Abu Aqla Kayka to the military. This shift was acknowledged by the military, who claimed that his defection was significant and that he had brought considerable forces with him. In retaliation, the RSF declared their readiness to defend against any threats, indicating a further escalation of armed confrontations.Nkweta-Salami provided preliminary reports suggesting that the RSF launched a substantial attack in Gezira between October 20 and 25. These assaults have allegedly resulted in indiscriminate killings, rapes, widespread looting, and the destruction of agricultural premises. Drawing comparisons to last year’s ethnic cleansing allegations in Darfur against the RSF, she stated that the scale of violence is reminiscent of some of the worst humanitarian crises in Sudan's recent history. Local advocates, including the Wad Madani Resistance Committee, condemned the ongoing violence as "extensive massacres" occurring across the region. Meanwhile, the Sudanese doctors' union urgently called on the UN to facilitate agreements for secure humanitarian corridors in response to reports of potential genocide being perpetrated by the RSF. They raised concern that medical assistance and rescue operations had become virtually impossible due to the current circumstances, rendering civilians vulnerable.The roots of the conflict lie in a power struggle between RSF commander General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo and the military leader General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, which followed their joint coup in 2021 that halted Sudan's democratic transition. Despite international mediation efforts led by the US and Saudi Arabia, both commanders have stubbornly refused to negotiate a peace settlement, allowing the violence to escalate further. As the situation evolves, the humanitarian crisis in Sudan continues to demand urgent attention and intervention.
