The Rapid Support Forces are accused of committing crimes against civilians in Sudan (French)

The Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Popular Resistance Committees accused the Rapid Support Forces of killing dozens of unarmed civilians in the states of South Kordofan, Al-Jazira and Sinnar.

The resistance committees of the city of Al-Hasahisa, about 45 kilometers north of Wad Madani, the capital of Al-Jazira State (central), said that at least 4 civilians were killed by support forces during their raid on villages in Al-Hasahisa Governorate.

A statement by the Resistance Committees confirmed that the Rapid Support Forces raided the villages of Maryoud, Tanub, and Futais with the intention of looting, causing deaths and injuries amid difficulties related to obtaining information regarding Rapid Support violations due to the interruption of communication and the Internet in the state of Al-Jazeera for 20 days.

The statement indicated that the practices of the Rapid Support Forces caused the displacement of women, children, the elderly, and the sick on foot to the city of Al-Manaqil, west of Al-Jazira State, which is located within areas under the control of the Sudanese army.

The Rapid Support Forces imposed control over the city of Wad Madani, the capital of Al-Jazira State, last December, before expanding south to the outskirts of Sinnar State.

Escalation of attacks

In the same context, the Sudanese Foreign Ministry said - in a statement - that "the Rapid Support Forces have escalated their attacks on civilians, villages and safe towns in different parts of the country over the past days."

She added that this week, “criminal militia gangs” (Rapid Support) attacked a number of villages in the areas of Habila, Dilling and Lagao in South Kordofan State (south), burning 5 villages, killing more than 60 unarmed villagers, and kidnapping a number of others.

The statement confirmed that the Rapid Support Forces killed 20 citizens from the village of Wad al-Aziz, west of Sinnar State (southeast), during the past days.

He reported that these forces killed 17 citizens from the village of Wad al-Balila, 12 civilians from the village of Muayjna, and 7 in the village of al-Uqda al-Maghariba, and attacked a number of safe villages in which there are not even police stations or government offices in the state of al-Jazira.

The Foreign Ministry accused the Rapid Support of imposing a siege on the city of Tabit Sheikh Abdul Mahmoud, the religious center known in the Jazira state, and preventing the exit or entry of citizens or the arrival of goods and supplies to it.

The Ministry called for strict steps to be taken by the international community, governments, and legislative bodies of countries concerned with achieving peace and stability in Sudan and the region.

To date, the Rapid Support has not issued any comment on the accusations reported by the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Since December 2023, the Rapid Support Forces have taken control of several cities in Al-Jazira State, including the state center, Wad Madani.

Recently, a number of cities in Darfur (west) and Kordofan, in addition to Khartoum, Omdurman, and Al-Jazira, have witnessed clashes between the army and the Rapid Support.

Since mid-April 2023, the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces have been engaged in clashes that have left more than 13,000 dead and about 8 million displaced and refugees, according to the United Nations.

Source: Al Jazeera + agencies