Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have reportedly killed at least 23 civilians in attacks on villages north of Al-Jazira state, near the capital Khartoum, according to local humanitarian groups.
In separate statements on Thursday, the Al-Jazira Conference and the Nidaa Al-Wasat Platform—two organizations involved in humanitarian relief—reported that RSF fighters carried out deadly assaults on Wednesday and Thursday in the villages of Al-Baqir and Al-Jadeed Al-Thawra.
Nidaa Al-Wasat alleged that the RSF had placed Habiba village under siege, preventing residents from escaping. “The village mourns the loss of seven martyrs,” the group stated.
Further casualties were reported in other areas, including six dead—among them a woman and a child—in Al-Jadeed Al-Thawra, eight killed, including a woman, in Al-Jadeed Al-Qahwa, and two more in Al-Farajin.
The Al-Jazira Conference added that the RSF opened fire on worshippers during Tarawih prayers in Habiba village, killing seven people.
These attacks come as the Sudanese army continues to reclaim most of Al-Jazira state, with only small RSF-controlled pockets remaining in the north and northwest near Khartoum.
In recent weeks, the RSF has lost considerable ground to the army in multiple states, including Khartoum, North Kordofan, White Nile, Sennar, and Blue Nile. The Sudanese military now fully controls Bahri (North Khartoum), most of Omdurman, and approximately 75% of central Khartoum, including key sites like the presidential palace and the international airport. However, the RSF still holds positions in eastern and southern Khartoum.
The ongoing conflict between the RSF and the Sudanese army, which began in April 2023, has resulted in over 20,000 deaths and displaced 15 million people, according to the UN. However, research from U.S. universities suggests the true death toll may be closer to 130,000.