CAIRO (AP) A humanitarian organization has accused forces affiliated with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a Sudanese paramilitary group, of deliberately targeting civilians in a region of Sudan that lacks any military presence. This attack occurred during a major Muslim holiday, resulting in the deaths of 27 individuals, including elderly people. The Sudan Doctors Network, an organization that tracks violence across Sudan, has identified the perpetrators as RSF-affiliated forces responsible for the assault on Thursday in villages located within the al-Murrah area, west of Barah town in North Kordofan.
The recent violence is exacerbating what the doctors' network describes as “catastrophic humanitarian conditions” faced by citizens already suffering due to the ongoing conflict. The war in Sudan escalated into a full-scale conflict in April 2023, following long-standing tensions between the Sudanese army and the RSF. The Kordofan region has emerged as one of the primary epicenters of the conflict, with the fighting intensifying across various fronts, including the use of drone warfare.
The RSF and its allies control significant territories in the western Darfur region and parts of Kordofan, areas rich in resources such as oil and gold. The conflict has also seen repeated clashes between the RSF and the army over Barah town. The attacks on Thursday coincided with the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha, known as the "Feast of Sacrifice," which is celebrated by millions of Muslims worldwide.
In a statement, the Sudan Doctors Network condemned the targeting of villages and civilian areas, highlighting that such actions represent a blatant violation of international humanitarian law. This latest incident follows earlier reports of intense clashes in South Kordofan, where fighting between forces linked to the rebel group Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North and the Otoro tribe resulted in over 61 casualties, including nine children. Additionally, a recent drone strike on a market in central Sudan claimed the lives of 28 people, injuring dozens more.
The ongoing conflict, which erupted in April 2023, has resulted in at least 59,000 deaths, the displacement of around 13 million individuals, and has pushed many regions in Sudan into famine. Currently, over 30 million people in the country are in dire need of humanitarian assistance. Both factions involved in the war have faced accusations from the United Nations and various human rights organizations of committing atrocities, such as ethnic cleansing, extrajudicial killings, and acts of sexual violence against civilians.
As the humanitarian crisis deepens, aid organizations warn that the true extent of the devastation may be significantly higher than reported, given the restricted access to conflict areas within the vast country. Observers express concern that without immediate international intervention and support, the situation in Sudan could deteriorate further, placing millions of lives at risk.
