By John Ikani
A senior UN official has raised serious concerns over what she describes as severe human rights abuses reportedly taking place in Sudan’s Gezira state.
Clementine Nkweta-Salami’s comments follow reports from advocacy groups alleging the mass killing of civilians, reportedly carried out by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary unit.
According to an activist group, at least 124 civilians were killed in attacks by the RSF over the past week. While the RSF has denied deliberately targeting civilians, it claims its forces are engaged in fighting militias that the military is allegedly arming.
Sudan’s 18-month conflict has claimed tens of thousands of lives and forced over 11 million from their homes. Gezira state has become a major conflict zone, following the defection of RSF commander Abu Aqla Kayka to the army, along with a substantial number of his troops. The army has hailed his move as a crucial, high-level defection to its side.
In response, the RSF has stated that it will defend itself “decisively” against armed resistance. Preliminary reports indicate that recent RSF operations across Gezira between October 20 and 25 have involved mass civilian casualties, sexual assaults, looting of markets, and widespread destruction of property, according to UN Coordinator Nkweta-Salami.
Nkweta-Salami expressed that the scale of these actions mirrors violence in Darfur last year, when the RSF faced accusations of committing “ethnic cleansing” against opposition-aligned communities. While exact casualty figures are uncertain, initial findings indicate scores of fatalities.
The Wad Madani Resistance Committee, an organization pushing for a peaceful, democratic Sudan, described RSF actions in the region as “extensive massacres.” The Sudanese doctors’ union has appealed to the UN to secure humanitarian corridors for safe access to affected villages, warning of potential “genocide.” The union has further stated that evacuation efforts have been severely hampered, and the military appears unable to shield civilians from harm.
Sudan’s ongoing crisis stems from a falling out between RSF chief Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo and military leader Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. The two generals, once partners in the 2021 coup that interrupted Sudan’s democratic transition, are now embroiled in a power struggle.
Efforts by global mediators, including the US and Saudi Arabia, to end the conflict through negotiations have so far failed to bring either side to the table for a peace agreement.
