Sudan medical group says RSF-affiliated fighters kill 27 civilians

Lead

A force affiliated with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has killed at least 27 people, including elderly residents, in an attack on villages west of Bara in Sudan's North Kordofan state, according to the Sudan Doctors Network, as reported by Al Jazeera. The Cairo-based medical NGO said the attacks took place on the second day of Eid al-Adha in the al-Murrah area, describing them as "a new crime targeting unarmed civilians in areas with no military presence."

In a separate report, AllAfrica cites local authorities saying the death toll has risen to at least 58 after residents discovered the bodies of 27 missing people on Saturday. The victims disappeared during the attack on the villages of El Marra, Umm Saadoun El Sharif, and El Rada, and were later found dead.

Coverage Comparison

Al Jazeera's report focuses on the humanitarian crisis, noting that nearly 19.5 million people face severe hunger in Sudan. It also provides context on the civil war that has engulfed the country since April 2023, highlighting the Kordofan region as one of the war's main battlegrounds and noting that the RSF and allied groups control much of western Darfur and parts of Kordofan.

AllAfrica's report, which aggregates African news sources, emphasizes the escalating violence, reporting that RSF fighters used around 20 combat vehicles in the attack and that local fighters responded. It also includes a separate incident: a drone strike that killed civilians in West Kordofan. Both outlets quote the Sudan Doctors Network and condemn the attack as a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law.

Key Claims

• At least 27 people were killed in an attack on villages west of Bara, according to the Sudan Doctors Network as reported by Al Jazeera.
• The death toll rose to at least 58 after the discovery of missing bodies, as reported by AllAfrica citing local authorities.
• The attack occurred on the second day of Eid al-Adha, as reported by both Al Jazeera and AllAfrica.
• Sudan has been engulfed in civil war since April 2023, according to Al Jazeera.
• The Kordofan region has become one of the war's main battlegrounds, according to Al Jazeera.
• RSF and allied groups control much of western Darfur and parts of Kordofan, according to Al Jazeera.
• Nearly 19.5 million people face severe hunger in Sudan, according to Al Jazeera.
• RSF fighters used around 20 combat vehicles in the attack, a claim carried by AllAfrica only.
• Local fighters responded to the attack, as reported by AllAfrica.
• A drone strike killed civilians in West Kordofan, as reported by AllAfrica.
• Sudan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the attack, as reported by AllAfrica.

Perspectives

Sudan Doctors Network: The medical NGO described the attack as a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law, noting that the villages had no military presence. They called the killings "brutal" and emphasized the "catastrophic humanitarian conditions" civilians are enduring.

Sudan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation: The ministry condemned the attack, describing it as part of a continuing pattern of violations against civilians. It accused the RSF of targeting unarmed citizens and appealed to the UN, African Union, and international human rights organizations to hold those responsible accountable.

Local community (via AllAfrica): The General Union of the Dar Hamid said local fighters responded to the attack, warning that tensions remain high and could escalate further. The National Umma Party also condemned the attack, seeing it as part of a broader pattern of violence, looting, and intimidation.

Temporal Context

Both reports refer to the attack as occurring on Thursday, which was the second day of Eid al-Adha. The AllAfrica report, published later, notes that the death toll rose after bodies were discovered on Saturday, indicating a continuing search and verification process.