LONDON — Scores of civilians are feared dead in Sudan‘s Al Jazirah state following attacks by the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group around the village of Wad Al-Noora on Wednesday.
“Up to a hundred” people were killed as the RSF militia besieged the village, attacking the village twice with heavy artillery, the Wad Madani Resistance Committee said in a post on social media, recounting eyewitness statements.
“The Rapid Support militia committed a bloody massacre against the residents of the village of Wad Al Noura,” wrote the committee, a civilian group that non-violently opposes the militant groups engaged in a civil war with Sudan’s government
Fighting broke out between the Sudanese Army (SAF) and the RSF group in April 2023 following months of tensions linked to a planned transition to civilian rule. The now 13-month conflict has precipitated one of the “world’s worst humanitarian crises,” and killed at least 15,000 people, according to the United Nation. Clashes between the RSF and SAF have taken place recently in Al Jazirah state.
Videos posted on social media since Wednesday appeared to show lines of bodies in shrouds in the village’s public square awaiting burial.
“An Inventory is underway, despite lack of communication networks and the internet in the village,” wrote the committee.
Al Jazirah state in Central Sudan is commonly known as the nation’s “breadbasket” state. It’s a key hub for humanitarian operations and the state that produced over half of Sudan’s cereal production and the main area for national grain storage.
Children sit together sharing a large bowl of food, as Sudanese families host internally displaced people coming from the central Sudanese state of Gezira to the eastern Sudanese city of Gedaref on June 3, 2024.
Ebrahim Hamid/AFP via Getty Images, FILE
Many civilians – including some who have spoken with ABC News – had sought refuge in the state after being displaced by conflict from other parts of the country.
The RSF advanced in December to the State’s capital, Wad Madani, following days of heavy fighting with the SAF — including airstrikes and shootings. Tens of thousands were displaced.
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RSF forces confirmed they attacked “three camps west, south and north of the Wad Al-Noura area” of Al Jazirah state at 5 a.m. on Wednesday.
“Our forces clashed with the enemy forces in the aforementioned camps located outside the city,” said the RSF. The paramilitary group said in a statement posted on X that they counted eight dead and a “number of wounded.”
ABC News was unable to independently verify the casualty counts. Local groups warned the true toll was likely much higher.
In this Sept. 29, 2022 file photo, a Sudanese demonstrator carries the national flag during a rally to demand the return to civilian rule, in the capital Khartoum.
AFP via Getty Images, FILE
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said in a statement that they are “deeply concerned about the well-being and safety of civilians caught up in clashes.”
The latest attacks come as “intense” fighting continues in El Fasher, North Darfur, with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) telling ABC News that heavy shelling and shooting continue to impact the city.
“There is a mass casualty event almost every day,” said the group, which is also known as Doctors Without Borders.
The International Office of Migration (IOM) on Thursday announced the number of people internally displaced by conflict inside Sudan could surpass 10 million in coming days as famine looms.
On the morning of Tuesday, a group of Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militants launched a violent attack on a village in Sudan’s Al Jazirah State, resulting in multiple casualties. The attack has sparked outrage and fear among the residents of the village, who are now left to deal with the aftermath of the brutal assault.
According to reports from local authorities, the RSF militants arrived in the village in a convoy of vehicles and began firing indiscriminately at the residents. The attack was said to be sudden and unexpected, catching the villagers off guard and leaving them vulnerable to the violence that ensued.
As a result of the attack, several villagers were killed and many others were injured. The exact number of casualties is still unclear, as the situation on the ground remains chaotic and volatile. Local hospitals are reportedly overwhelmed with the influx of injured individuals seeking medical attention, further highlighting the severity of the attack.
The motives behind the RSF militants’ assault on the village are not yet known, but it is believed to be linked to ongoing conflicts and tensions in the region. The RSF, a paramilitary group that emerged from the Janjaweed militia responsible for atrocities in Darfur, has been accused of human rights abuses and violence against civilians in various parts of Sudan.
The attack in Al Jazirah State serves as a grim reminder of the continued instability and insecurity that plagues many regions of Sudan. The residents of the village are now left traumatized and fearful for their safety, as they grapple with the aftermath of the brutal assault.
Local authorities have condemned the attack and have vowed to investigate the incident and bring those responsible to justice. However, many residents remain skeptical of the government’s ability to protect them from further violence and are calling for increased security measures in the area.
The international community has also expressed concern over the escalating violence in Sudan and has called for an end to the bloodshed. Human rights organizations have urged for a thorough investigation into the attack and for accountability for those responsible for the loss of innocent lives.
As the residents of the village in Al Jazirah State mourn their loved ones and try to heal from their injuries, they are left with a sense of uncertainty and fear about what the future may hold. The attack serves as a stark reminder of the challenges that Sudan continues to face in its journey towards peace and stability.
