‘Amnesty calls on the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces to end all indiscriminate and deliberate attacks on civilians across the country’ - Tigere Chagutah

All parties to the ongoing conflict in Sudan must end attacks on civilians, said Amnesty International, in the wake of escalating violence in towns and villages across Gezira state over the past week.

Relatives of victims interviewed remotely by Amnesty said that the Rapid Support Forces attacked Tamboul, Rufaa, Al-Hilaliya, Al- Seriha and Al-Uzibah in eastern Gezira state, killing people in their homes, in markets and on the streets, and looting property including from markets and hospitals. Thousands of people have also been displaced according to the UN.

Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, said:

“The reports of extreme violence coming out from Sudan’s Gezira state are alarming.

“Amnesty calls on the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces to end all indiscriminate and deliberate attacks on civilians across the country.

“All parties to the conflict must also allow safe passage to civilians trying to flee conflict areas and ensure that they facilitate unimpeded and unrestricted delivery of humanitarian aid to all in need without discrimination.

“All countries fuelling this brutal conflict must immediately cease direct and indirect supplies of all arms and ammunition to both sides and respect and enforce the UN Security Council’s arms embargo regime on Darfur.”

Relatives interviewed by Amnesty

A close relative of some of the victims, who is currently in Kassala city, said:

“On 20 October, my 42-year-old cousin and three other close relatives were killed by the Rapid Support Forces in Tamboul. My cousin was killed in his home and the other relatives were killed in the market.”

Three other people whose relatives were impacted by the attacks in Gezira told Amnesty that some of their family members are still missing. One relative said:

“My father, my aunt, my stepmother, my two uncles, my younger brother and my grandmother are all missing, they lived in Tamboul – which was attacked on Sunday 20 October by the Rapid Support Forces and that is the last time we heard from them. We do not know if they are alive or dead, we are completely devastated.”

Worsening situation

Following the defection to the Sudanese Armed Forces of Abu Aqla Keikel, a former Rapid Support Forces commander in Gezira state, on 20 October, the Rapid Support Forces launched retaliatory attacks on towns and villages in the eastern part of Gezira state targeting communities in that area.

According to the UN, at least 25 cases of sexual violence were reported in several villages in Sharq Al-Jazira locality.