In a devastating attack, fighters from Sudan’s paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), have rampaged through the village of Galgani in Sennar Province, leaving a trail of destruction and death in their wake. At least 85 people, including women and children, have been killed in the latest atrocity to occur in Sudan’s 18-month-long conflict.
The RSF initiated the attack on Galgani in late July, with recent reports indicating that the fighters indiscriminately opened fire on unarmed residents after encountering resistance while attempting to abduct and sexually assault women and girls. Sudan’s Foreign Ministry confirmed these details in a statement, further revealing that over 150 villagers were wounded during the assault.
The RSF has faced repeated accusations of massacres, rapes, and other violations throughout Sudan since the conflict began in April 2023. The simmering tensions between the military and the paramilitary group erupted into open fighting in the capital, Khartoum, and other areas.
Eyewitnesses described the horrifying hours-long attack, recounting how hundreds of RSF fighters stormed Galgani, looting and burning houses and public properties. The assault followed an initial resistance by the villagers, who managed to repel a small group of RSF fighters. However, the RSF returned with reinforcements, arriving in dozens of pickup trucks armed with automatic rifles and heavy weapons.
As of Friday, the local medical center had received at least 80 bodies, including 24 women and minors. The situation remains dire, with one villager, Mohamed Tajal-Amin, reporting that bodies still lay in the streets, as the Janjaweed, a name synonymous with genocide and war crimes in Darfur, prevented the retrieval and burial of the deceased. It is important to note that the RSF grew out of these militias.
Despite the ongoing violence, the United States has been leading efforts to resume peace talks between the military and the RSF. These talks, boycotted by the military, began last week in Switzerland, with the presence of diplomats from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, the African Union, and the United Nations. While the RSF sent a delegation to Geneva, they did not participate in the meetings.
The conflict in Sudan has resulted in numerous international efforts to bring about a resolution, as it has claimed thousands of lives and led to the world’s largest displacement crisis. Last month, famine was confirmed in a sprawling camp for displaced people in the western region of Darfur. The United Nations and international rights groups have documented atrocities, including mass rape and ethnically motivated killings, which amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity. » …
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