Villages in east Gezira are attacked by Sudan’s RSF after defection

After local high-ranking RSF commander Abuagla Keikal defected, paramilitary Rapid Support Forces raided communities in the eastern part of Sudan’s El Gezira state, murdering at least 25 people, according to activists.

Keikal’s local forces had repelled advances into east Gezira, sparing people the worst of the bloodshed while establishing authority over the region, while soldiers from other RSF divisions tore through the farming state starting in December.

However, once he defected on Sunday, a significant number of RSF soldiers poured into the area in what activists called retaliation, causing displacement, looting, and murders.

According to one activist who wished to remain anonymous in order to protect local families, “now they have their chance to do what they want,”

At least 25 people have been slain since Sunday in Rufaa, the region’s major town, and seven other villages and towns, according to a pro-democracy organization called the Rufaa Resistance Committee on Tuesday. According to the report, there had been many rape claims, the majority of Rufaa people had been evicted, and residences had been plundered.

Although there were little information available due to a network outage, an eyewitness from the town of Hilalia claimed to have witnessed RSF forces robbing medical facilities and the market.

As the army continues its battle to retake territory from the RSF, the RSF stated on Tuesday that it had forced the army out of the town of Tamboul, where the two sides had clashed.

On Tuesday, the RSF posted a video allegedly demonstrating the death of 370 troops, including the commander of the army in Tamboul. The army did not immediately issue a comment on the fighting, but the Rufaa committee said that the soldiers had left the town.

The state capital Wad Madani’s resistance organization said on Monday that an army bombing during evening prayers the previous evening had killed thirty-one persons.

With almost 11 million people displaced and half of the population suffering from severe starvation, the conflict between the army and the RSF, which began more than 18 months ago, has resulted in the worst humanitarian disaster in history.