Amid growing unrest in Sudan’s Al-Jazirah state, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are alleged to have carried out violent reprisals in Rufaa, following a local RSF commander’s defection to the army. Monitoring groups report incidents of civilian casualties, arrests, and blockades, leaving residents vulnerable to further hostilities.
Reports state that the violence intensified on October 21, when Abu Aqla Kikl, former RSF commander in Al-Jazirah, switched allegiances to the Sudanese military. His departure is said to have sparked a series of retaliatory measures by RSF forces, with many areas under increased control, preventing civilians from fleeing.
The Al-Jazirah Conference, a local human rights monitoring organization, noted three individuals’ bodies found in Al Sereicha village, including an infant. Residents reported locating bodies in nearby fields and an irrigation channel. The monitoring group estimates that 124 civilians were killed, and 200 others injured in the region amid RSF-led operations.
Fears of detainees facing mistreatment are rising, with concerns for the fate of around 150 civilians reportedly taken to RSF facilities in Kab Al-Jadid, according to monitoring group accounts. Food, water, and power shortages further strain Rufaa’s besieged residents, with blocked communication networks heightening isolation from outside assistance.
Sudanese Health Minister Haitham Mohamed Ibrahim announced efforts to mobilize medical relief for Al Sereicha’s injured civilians and has requested support from the Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders. Hospitals have been directed to treat affected individuals at no cost.
Amid communication disruptions, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reports the displacement of 9,332 families from Tambul and other affected locations, with ongoing evaluations pending for additional areas impacted by the violence.