Dozens of civilians killed in RSF attacks in Sudan’s Al Jazirah state, groups say

January 16, 2025 (AL-HASAHISA) – At least 21 civilians have been killed in attacks by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan’s Al Jazirah state this week, rights groups and local organizations said on Thursday.

The attacks come as the RSF launches a fresh offensive in villages south and east of Al Jazirah, following its defeat by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and allied fighters in the strategic town of Um Al-Qura and the state capital Wad Madani earlier this week.

The Emergency Lawyers group, a pro-democracy organization documenting the conflict, said 15 people were killed and over 20 wounded, including women, when RSF fighters attacked Al-Khizan village in the Abu Guta administrative area on Wednesday. The attack led to the “complete displacement” of Al-Khizan’s residents, with the RSF looting property and committing “grave violations”, including extrajudicial killings, forced displacement, and kidnapping, the group added in a statement.

Separately, the Al Jazirah Conference, a local group monitoring the conflict, said the RSF killed a man and his son in Al-Ashara village, also in the Abu Guta area. An RSF unit, which the group said included South Sudanese mercenaries, also attacked several villages north of Wad Rawah, killing four civilians and wounding dozens. Residents fled the violence by boat across the Blue Nile, the group reported, adding that casualties were mounting.

Resistance Committees in Al-Hasahisa, a key town in the state, accused the RSF of kidnapping civilians and demanding ransom for their release, adding that internet blackouts made verifying their safety difficult.

Since seizing control of much of Al Jazirah state in late 2023, the RSF has been implicated in widespread abuses, including killings and looting. The SAF has recently retaken some areas, including parts of Wad Madani.

On Wednesday, local activists reported RSF fighters looting property in Al-Kamlin, near Al-Hasahisa, and killing two people in Abu Ushar. They also reported that the RSF had confiscated Starlink satellite internet terminals, further isolating residents.

Activists accuse the RSF of using civilians as human shields in towns like Rufaa and Al-Hasahisa, as they reposition forces following recent losses. The SAF and allied forces now surround RSF positions in Al Jazirah from three directions, raising the possibility of further fighting.

Sudan Tribune was unable to independently verify the reports. The RSF did not immediately respond to a request for comment.