Rapid Support Forces Rampage in Central Sudan Village; Attack Marks Latest Atrocity in 18-Month Conflict
Fighters from Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have rampaged through the village of Galgani in the central province of Sennar, killing at least 85 people, including women and children, and injuring over 150, according to local authorities and residents. The attack, which took place over the past week, represents the latest escalation in Sudan’s 18-month devastating conflict.
The RSF, notorious for its involvement in numerous atrocities since the conflict began in April last year, launched their assault on Galgani late in July and continued their rampage into early August. The Sudanese Foreign Ministry reported that the RSF fighters “indiscriminately opened fire on the village’s unarmed residents” after their attempts to abduct and sexually assault women and girls were resisted.
Three residents who spoke to The Associated Press described a brutal and chaotic scene. They reported that hundreds of RSF fighters, armed with automatic rifles and heavy weapons, stormed the village, looting and burning homes and public buildings. The offensive came after villagers managed to repel an earlier attack by a smaller group of RSF fighters.
A local health care worker, who requested anonymity for safety reasons, reported that the medical center in Galgani had received at least 80 bodies, including 24 women and minors. Mohamed Tajal-Amin, a villager, described seeing several bodies in the streets and lamented that the RSF’s presence prevented locals from recovering and burying their dead.
The RSF, which has evolved from the Janjaweed militias infamous for their role in Darfur’s genocide, has faced repeated accusations of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Their recent assault on Sennar’s provincial capital, Singa, in June, involved looting and taking control of the city’s main hospital, forcing thousands to flee.
This attack comes amidst ongoing international efforts to mediate peace between the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). U.S.-led peace talks began last week in Switzerland, attended by diplomats from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE, the African Union, and the UN. However, these talks have been complicated by the RSF’s decision to send a delegation without participating in the discussions, and the military’s boycott of the negotiations.
U.S. Special Envoy for Sudan, Tom Perriello, highlighted the need for the SAF to engage in the peace process, stating on social media, “The RSF remains here ready for talks to start; SAF needs to decide to come.”
The conflict in Sudan, characterized by mass displacement and severe humanitarian crises, has resulted in over 10.7 million people fleeing their homes, with more than 2 million seeking refuge in neighboring countries. Last month, famine was confirmed in a displaced persons camp in Darfur, underscoring the dire conditions faced by millions of Sudanese.
The UN and international human rights organizations have condemned the ongoing atrocities, which include mass rape and ethnically motivated killings, as war crimes and crimes against humanity. The situation remains critical, with the international community urgently seeking ways to halt the violence and address the humanitarian needs of the Sudanese people.
