Sudanese Paramilitaries Launch Deadly Attacks, Claiming at Least 50 Lives in Al-Jazira State
At least 50 people have been reported dead following a violent assault by Sudanese paramilitaries in the al-Jazira state, according to local activists. The attacks come amid an ongoing conflict between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and Sudan’s regular army, which has been escalating since April 2023.
The violence intensified recently after the RSF’s commander in al-Jazira defected to the regular army, leading to fierce reprisals against civilians. Reports indicate that the villages of al-Sariha and Azraq have been under attack since Friday morning, with the resistance committee in Hasaheisa stating that there has been no way to evacuate the wounded due to continuous shelling and sniper fire from the RSF.
In al-Sariha alone, the attack has left more than 200 people injured, with local sources reporting a "total inability" to assist those in need. Due to a near-total communications blackout, compiling accurate casualty figures has proven nearly impossible.
The nearby village of Azraq has also been subjected to similar assaults, but casualty numbers remain unverified. The Sudanese doctors’ union has urgently called on the United Nations to facilitate safe humanitarian corridors for affected civilians, warning that rescue operations have become impossible and the army is unable to provide adequate protection.
The ongoing conflict has had devastating consequences, with estimates of tens of thousands killed and over seven million people displaced—making it, according to the UN, the largest displacement crisis in the world. Famine has recently been declared in the Zamzam camp for displaced individuals in the Darfur region, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
The RSF’s recent setbacks appear linked to the defection of Abu Aqla Kaykal, the paramilitary commander in al-Jazira, who reportedly took many of his forces with him to join the regular army. In the wake of this change, activists reported additional fatalities, including airstrikes that resulted in at least 31 deaths in Wad Madani.
Chad, which borders Sudan and has been accused of aiding the RSF, has denied any involvement. Chadian authorities reaffirmed their disinterest in escalating the conflict, while regional leaders expressed concerns about the economic repercussions stemming from the Sudanese civil war.
As the situation intensifies, the International Monetary Fund has warned that the conflict could inflict significant economic damage on neighboring countries grappling with an already precarious humanitarian situation.
The international community continues to monitor developments in Sudan, with calls for urgent intervention to protect civilians and provide humanitarian aid. The resistance committees and local medical unions remain steadfast in their efforts to report on the atrocities and seek assistance for those caught in the crossfire.
