International Condemnation of Rapid Support Forces’ Crimes Against Civilians in Sudan’s Gezira State
International bodies have condemned the crimes committed by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) against civilians in Gezira State, central Sudan, which claimed the lives of dozens. Calls for the protection of civilians and accountability for the perpetrators have intensified.
Crimes Committed by RSF
Sudanese activists and medical professionals accused the RSF of killing 124 civilians in attacks on the village of Al-Sarhih in Gezira State. These attacks were reportedly in retaliation for the defection of RSF-affiliated leaders from the region who joined the Sudanese army.
UN and International Condemnation
Clementine Nkweta-Salami, UN humanitarian coordinator in Sudan, expressed deep concern over reports of escalating violence in Gezira. In her statement, she highlighted serious violations by the RSF, including indiscriminate shootings, sexual violence against women and girls, widespread looting, and the burning of farmland.
She described these violations as reminiscent of atrocities witnessed in Darfur, such as rape, targeted attacks, sexual violence, and mass killings. Nkweta-Salami emphasized the need to uphold international humanitarian law and ensure civilian protection.
Josep Borrell, the EU’s foreign policy chief, described the images emerging from Gezira as “horrific” and called for an end to the massacres, stressing the importance of holding the perpetrators accountable. Similarly, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, underscored the tragic reports of at least 124 deaths in Gezira, highlighting the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Sudan and urging urgent action to protect civilians.
Sudanese Government’s Stance
Sudan’s Sovereignty Council Chairman, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, vowed that the RSF’s violations of international law and crimes against humanity would not go unpunished. The Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs also accused the RSF of launching “retaliatory attacks” on villages in eastern Gezira following the defection of local leaders to the army. The ministry described these acts as amounting to “genocide and ethnic cleansing.”
Developments on the Ground
Following the defection of RSF commander Abu Aqla Mohammed Ahmed Keikel on October 20, renewed clashes erupted between the Sudanese army and the RSF in Gezira. Although the RSF temporarily controlled parts of the state, areas such as the city of Al-Managil and its surroundings remain outside their control.
Ongoing Humanitarian Crisis
Since the conflict between the Sudanese army and the RSF erupted in April 2023, more than 20,000 people have been killed, and over 11 million have been displaced as refugees or internally displaced persons, according to the UN. The fighting has spread to 13 of Sudan’s 18 states, exacerbating a humanitarian catastrophe that has pushed millions to the brink of starvation due to severe food and resource shortages.
Calls to End the Conflict
There is growing international pressure to end the war in Sudan to prevent further deterioration of the humanitarian crisis. Efforts continue to mobilize global support to stop this devastating conflict and protect the millions affected.
