Central Sudan Genocide Shadows

On October 20, 2024, a Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commander reportedly surrendered to the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). Since then, the RSF has launched a retribution campaign of murder and carnage throughout Gezira and the central Sudan districts. According to SIHA’s sources on the ground, on October 21, 2024, the RSF allegedly killed 120 Sudanese Hausa fishermen and farmers in Om-Shuka town, Sinnar State, south of Gezira.

During the past week, eyewitnesses testimonies and open-source social media videos, some by the RSF themselves show thatthe RSF has been committing horrendous war crimes, starting from Tamboul district to Rufaa Town in eastern Gezira, where there have been recent occurrences of sexual violence (SIHA has documented 25 cases between October 21 and 24, 2024). The Sudan Ministry of Health also alleged that the RSF has abducted female nurses from Rufaa Hospital. These allegations have been confirmed by a number of eyewitnesses in Rufaa town.

On October 25, 2024, sources reported that the RSF killed approximately 124 civilians (exact numbers are yet to be confirmed) in the villages of Al Seraiha and Azrag in northern Gezira, near Al-Kamleen district. Among the victims were a significantly large number of children, elders, and women. The RSF has been employing heavy artillery and ground weapons against unarmed civilians, which has contributed to the rising number of casualties.

According to accounts from Al-Seraiha village, women were subjected to torture and gang rape, prompting several to commit suicide. After learning of possible attacks, many young women indicated that they would rather commit suicide than yield to RSF violations.

The ongoing cycles of death, rape, and torture in Al Gezira continue unabated as we release this statement. On October 28, 2024, an eyewitness from Al Seraiha village discovered three bodies of slain villagers beside the water channel. Another body was discovered floating in the channel, that of an infant, approximately six-months.

Based on local sources, between October 22, and October 28, 2024, the RSF killed more than 1,000 in 50 villages across Gezira and Sinnar State. In addition, there have been several reports on social media of missing women, children, and elders.

This brutality is a continuation of the RSF’s ruthless campaign of brutal violence and the murder of civilians across Sudan, particularly in Darfur, which have easily ascended to the level of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Gezira, once considered Sudan’s breadbasket, has been exposed to multiple cycles of atrocities and severe devastation since the RSF attacked the area in December 2023.

Similar to the sequence of events in Al Geneina, West Darfur, the RSF looted and destroyed the region’s villages, towns, crops, and water sources.  They also engaged in widespread rape and sexual exploitation. The RSF has further ruthlessly murdered community members, subjected them to hard labour, and enslaved numerous village populations. It is worth noting that this is not the first massacre in the region, on June 24, 2024 the RSF murdered at least 200 people in the village of Wad Al Noura in Western Gezira.

Despite the dire circumstances, humanitarian assistance in Sudan falls well short of the population’s needs and does not accurately reflect the severity of the crisis. This ailment is causing widespread mortality because of hunger, violence, and a lack of health-care services. Even though Sudanese civil society actors are doing their best to respond to the war crises, they are limited in capability and are frequently met with insecurity and threats from both sides.

A legacy of impunity and a failure in accountability has fueled the establishment of the RSF, which had previously operated as Al Bashir’s Janjaweed militia, inflicting terror among communities, particularly in Darfur, for more than 20 years. This legacy continues in the current conflict and is exasperated by support from regional actors that offered arms, and collaboration with the RSF.

The African Union’s lack of a strong voice and influence has exacerbated the situation’s stagnation. Political efforts for peace are disorganized and poorly coordinated, aggravating the situation for Sudan’s 44 million people. This lack of coherence has contributed to the escalation and continuation of the violence.

Sudan finds itself at a pivotal juncture, with the ominous specter of genocide looming over the country. In order to steer Sudan away from this predicament and to protect the lives of the Sudanese people, SIHA Network calls on the international community and the African Union to consider the following:

1. The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) must act to restore peace and security in Sudan, fulfilling its responsibility to protect civilians. The UN and the African Union (AU) must collaborate closely in this effort. They should work together to quickly establish a gender-sensitive civilian protection mechanism on ground to safeguard civilian lives.
   
   
2. It is essential to establish systems that guarantee justice and accountability are delivered promptly, thus ensuring that those who bear responsibility are held accountable for their actions. This step is critical for peace in Sudan. There is also a need to support the International Criminal Court and the UN fact-finding missions, as well as the creation of a specialized criminal tribunal for Sudan under the leadership of the United Nations.
   
   
3. Provide resources for all aspects of humanitarian aid, health and sanitation services, sexual and reproductive health, support children education and psychosocial support to civilians and survivors of sexual violence.
   
   
4. Halt the flow of arms into Sudan by applying targeted sanctions against those providing such supplies.