A recent offensive by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in central Sudan’s East Al Jazirah region has left at least 49 civilians dead and numerous others injured, marking a devastating escalation in violence. The assault, spanning multiple villages, has deepened the area’s humanitarian crisis and triggered significant displacement.
According to local reports, the RSF targeted several villages in a series of retaliatory attacks following the defection of a high-ranking commander, Abu Aqla Kikal, who recently joined the Sudanese army. The violence, which began on Thursday, has particularly impacted villages like Zurqa, Safita al-Ghunomab, Maknun, Deim Elias, and Tambul. The Al Jazirah Conference stated that as many as 300 civilians may have been killed across 30 villages in the Tambul area, though Sudan Tribune cautions that communication barriers prevent an accurate casualty count.
As the conflict unfolds, fleeing residents from 24 villages and neighborhoods across Tambul and Rufaa city have reported cases of RSF-perpetrated violence. Survivors have recounted incidents of looting, random gunfire, and the torching of agricultural fields, with witnesses also noting drone strikes from the Sudanese army aimed at RSF locations.
This surge in violence has intensified the humanitarian crisis in East Al Jazirah. Basic supplies, especially flour and cash, are reportedly scarce due to RSF looting, leaving displaced individuals without essential resources. Refugees from the Tundub area have expressed urgent pleas for international aid to address the worsening conditions and support those affected by the ongoing violence.