A senior United Nations official in Sudan, Clementine Nkweta-Salami, has expressed deep concern over reports of severe atrocities in central Gezira state, allegedly perpetrated by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Her remarks follow claims from an activist group that the RSF has killed at least 124 civilians in a series of attacks on villages over the past week.
While the RSF has denied targeting civilians, asserting that its forces are engaged in clashes with military-backed militias, the ongoing 18-month conflict in Sudan has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and displaced over 11 million people.
Gezira state became a new conflict hotspot last week after a significant defection. Abu Aqla Kayka, a high-ranking RSF commander, joined the Sudanese military, bringing a substantial number of his forces. The army has called this the first major defection to its side in the conflict. In response, the RSF announced its intent to defend itself and deal decisively with armed opponents.
Ms. Nkweta-Salami, who serves as the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, stated that initial reports indicate the RSF conducted a large-scale assault across Gezira state from October 20 to October 25. These attacks reportedly involved mass killings, sexual violence against women and girls, widespread looting, and the destruction of farms and homes.
She warned that these alleged atrocities mirror the scale of violence seen last year in Sudan’s Darfur region, where the RSF was accused of “ethnic cleansing” against communities perceived as opposing them. While the exact death toll in Gezira remains unclear, preliminary reports indicate that scores have lost their lives.
The Wad Madani Resistance Committee, an activist group advocating for an end to the conflict and a democratic transition in Sudan, stated on Saturday that the RSF has been carrying out “extensive massacres” in villages across the region, as reported by Reuters. The Sudanese doctors’ union has also appealed to the UN to establish safe humanitarian corridors, warning that villages are facing “genocide” under RSF forces and that rescue operations are currently unfeasible due to the military’s limited ability to protect civilians.
The conflict began in April 2023 following a power struggle between RSF commander Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo and military leader Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. The two generals had previously orchestrated a coup in 2021, halting Sudan’s progress toward democracy, but later became locked in a bitter rivalry. Despite international mediation attempts, including efforts from the United States and Saudi Arabia, both leaders have refused to agree to a peace deal.
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