Militia Attacks in a Sudanese City Leave 'Over 120 Dead'

The United Nations and the Sudanese Doctors' Union report that in recent days, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have launched attacks in central and eastern Sudan, resulting in the deaths of over 120 people in one city. On Saturday, November 5, the UN announced that from October 20 to November 4, the RSF attacked villages and cities in the east and north of the Al-Jazira province, shooting at civilians and committing sexual assaults against women and girls. According to the statement, this militia group also looted private and public properties, including some markets. Clementine Nkueta Salami, the UN humanitarian coordinator in Sudan, described these attacks as 'horrific crimes' and emphasized that 'in these conflicts, which have already claimed many lives, women, children, and the most vulnerable bear the brunt.' She noted that these attacks are reminiscent of horrific events such as rape, sexual violence, and mass killings that occurred during the Darfur genocide in the early 2000s. The ongoing cholera outbreak in Sudan, coinciding with the civil war, has claimed the lives of hundreds. The Darfur genocide, one of the largest genocides and horrific crimes in history, began in 2003 and led to the displacement and suffering of hundreds of thousands. Mass killings, sexual violence, forced displacement, and village destruction were among the crimes committed during this genocide, for which the Sudanese government and its allied militias were accused. Meanwhile, the Sudanese Doctors' Union reported that at least 124 people were killed in the city of Sereihah, with 200 others injured. According to the union's statement, the RSF has also detained at least 150 people. The union emphasized that there is no way to assist the injured or transfer them for treatment and called on the UN Security Council to pressure the RSF to create 'safe corridors' for aid delivery to the villagers. Images shared on social media, some posted by the RSF themselves, show members of this militia group harassing detainees. However, the Associated Press reported that the group has not responded to requests for comment. The attacks mentioned by the UN and the Sudanese Doctors' Union are the latest actions by the RSF against the Sudanese army after suffering several defeats and losing ground to army forces in the region. The ongoing conflict in Sudan, which has been occurring since April of last year between the army and militia forces, has killed tens of thousands and created one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world. Sudan rejected the UN's request for the deployment of a civilian protection force. Independent UN experts announced in September that their fact-finding mission uncovered 'horrific violations' committed by both sides in the conflict, which could amount to 'war crimes and crimes against humanity.' These experts called for 'the immediate deployment of an independent and impartial force with a mandate to protect civilians' in Sudan. The continued war between the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese army has devastated this African country, displacing millions of its population and pushing the country to the brink of complete famine.