Sudan’s Massacre Crisis: 150 feared dead in RSF attack; ongoing battles; millions at risk of famine. Urgent need for peace and intervention.
In a chilling display of brutality, at least 150 lives were extinguished in a massacre in central Sudan’s Wad al-Nourah, reportedly at the hands of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). This paramilitary group has been locked in a deadly battle with the Sudanese army for control over the nation for more than 13 months. The RSF, notorious for its ruthlessness, has remained silent on the massacre accusations, yet boasted of attacking two army positions just last Thursday.
Footage shared on social media post-raid revealed dozens of bodies wrapped in white shrouds, awaiting burial. These harrowing images were filmed by activists from the Madani Resistance Committee, part of a broader network advocating for a return to civilian rule. The committee reported that the true toll of the dead and injured remains uncertain as RSF elements continue to terrorize the area, looting and leaving a trail of destruction in their wake.
Hafiz Mohamad of Justice Africa Sudan lamented the difficulty in accounting for all the dead, emphasizing the ongoing presence and menace of the RSF in the area. The Sudanese military government has since called for international condemnation of the Wad al-Nourah attack, underscoring the dire need for global attention and intervention.
The RSF’s occupation of Gezira state since December has seen a litany of abuses against civilians, charges the group vehemently denies. Meanwhile, the carnage spreads, with intense battles raging in El Fasher, Darfur. This conflict, ignited in April 2023 by a fallout between the army and RSF leaders, has plunged Sudan into chaos, claiming over 15,000 lives.
Despite numerous peace talks, the violence persists. UN agencies have labeled the fighting as the catalyst for the world’s largest displacement crisis, with millions teetering on the brink of famine. Martin Griffiths, the UN’s under-secretary general for humanitarian affairs, grimly noted,
“I don’t think we’ve ever had this kind of number at risk of famine. This was an avoidable conflict. It is a place where two men decided that they were going to resolve their differences through fighting and take their country down.”
As Sudan’s civilians bear the brunt of this power struggle, the world must not turn a blind eye. The call for a return to civilian rule and international intervention has never been more urgent. The devastating human cost of this conflict is a stark reminder of the destructive potential of unchecked ambition and the paramount need for peace and stability in Sudan.
Sources:
- Footage from activists via social media. On Al Jazeera
- Statements from the Madani Resistance Committee and Justice Africa Sudan.
- UN agencies and Martin Griffiths’ comments on the humanitarian crisis.
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