'For anyone who resisted, their fate was a bullet': Inside the RSF's deadly rampage across Sudan's Gezira state

In the midst of the war which has been raging between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since mid-April 2023 — killing tens of thousands and displacing over 10 million — RSF forces swept through towns and villages in the eastern region of Gezira state, south of Khartoum at the end of October. 

In a series of vicious raids, they directly targeted civilians, accusing them of loyalty to Abuagla Keikal, a former RSF top commander in the region who defected to the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) on 20 October, marking the first high-profile defection from the RSF.

While the death toll is still unclear, hundreds are believed to have been massacred in the indiscriminate attacks, and as many as 135,000 displaced according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

The revenge campaign affected around 70 villages in the countryside of Rufaa, the largest town in the region, as well as the town itself, the town of Tamboul, 130 villages in its countryside and 30 villages in the countryside of Al Junayd.

Most residents from these villages were displaced on foot to Gedaref state, including the capital Gedaref, as well as El Faw. Civilians also fled to Halfa Aj Jadeedah in Kassala state and northwards into River Nile State.

Khader Al-Abbas Al-Khader, 52, fled from Wadgloga village in the countryside near Tamboul. Wadgloga was already hosting displaced people from seven villages, he says, explaining to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, The New Arab's Arabic-language sister edition that, "The militia attacked the village, looted cars and stormed houses looking for gold and cash. In other villages they killed dozens and flogged the women, forcing them, alongside other residents, to leave."

He says while some fled on foot and others in carts pulled by animals, he was lucky enough to find a car that transported him and his family "for four million Sudanese pounds (around $1,500)".

They fled eastwards to the Gedaref state, arriving in the Al Faw city with 4,000 others from Wadgloga, he says.

 "Now I am in a camp in Al Faw, especially for people from the village. Some of those who fled on foot died from conditions of extreme thirst, among them my 17-year-old nephew."

Khader says they have not seen "any concern" from the state government or local or international organisations, and most have been supported by fellow Sudanese citizens living abroad, mostly in the Gulf states.

He expressed his sadness that "thousands of families in the area around Elttondoub and Wad Elfadul couldn't flee […] as they have no money and a ticket is now 120,000 Sudanese pounds ($200). Their families are surviving on dates and biscuits, and there is no electricity or communication. The latest we've heard is that dozens were killed."

Jaber Jabara, 19, fled with his family, on foot and at times getting picked up by trucks. They travelled for three days to reach Gedaref city after the RSF attacked the village of Abu Jilfa.

"My family and I made a difficult journey to Gedaref, and I saw how close the displaced were to dying from hunger and thirst as we were living on one meal and a little water that wasn't fit to drink."

He says at the start of their journey he saw RSF members stop some of those fleeing and seize all their belongings.

"This happened to some people in a truck who were forced off it before the truck was stolen and they were left there."

He says people were robbed, whipped and some arrested and "nothing has been heard of people who disappeared days ago. Meanwhile, the village, where nearly 10,000 people lived, has become a ghost town."

He also says that no one has stepped in to support the displaced, who are "wholly relying on their efforts."

According to Ghaith, who fled to Halfa Aj Jadeedah, over 20,000 fled from eastern Gezira to Halfa Aj Jadeedah, with many now spread between residents' homes in the city and schools-turned-shelters.

The region's residents have taken it on themselves to support the displaced, offering tarpaulin sheets, food, and other essentials, he says, adding that several community kitchens have sprung up and are cooking free meals for families.

Khader Abdelrahman, who fled with his family from al-Habika al-Naqr village to Gedaref city, said, "I never imagined we would go through what we went through, and I can't comprehend what happened. The Rapid Support militia killed people forcibly prevented their family members from burying them, and racistly abused them."

For anyone who resisted, "their fate was a bullet."

He managed to leave east Gezira with his small family via a horse-drawn cart, and the journey lasted two days.

"We were walking in the open, not knowing where we were going. Some people died of thirst, and young men were executed inside a mosque. When we reached the area controlled by the army, we were treated badly," he explains. 

"The soldiers told us to show documents we had left behind while fleeing and accused some of the displaced of loyalty to the RSF. We were also neglected – there were no camps, shelters or food supplies, nor any financial support or treatment, and everyone was relying on initiatives by [Sudanese] expatriates."

Meanwhile, the East Nile Emergency Room issued an urgent appeal to help the residents of the towns and villages of Gezira state and from east Gezira in particular.

"Around 17,000 people have been displaced to the Abu Dulayq area and are suffering from harsh conditions threatening their lives, health and dignity. There is a severe shortage of basic services, including food and treatment," stated the body, adding that some of the displaced needed "psychological and social support to help them cope with the shock."

Haitham al-Sharif, a spokesman for the Al-Jazirah Conference, a civil society group monitoring civilian issues during the war, said over 50,000 were displaced from east Gezira state, distributed between Gedaref, Al Faw, and Halfa Aj Jadeedah.

"They walked dozens of kilometres to reach the Al-Sabbagh area, the closest point controlled by the army, and gathered there waiting to be transported to these cities. They all live in extremely difficult conditions, without money, medicine, shelter, or food," he said. 

"The simple effort made by the government has not met [people's] needs. Gezira State government provided about 300 tents, a thousand food baskets and some medicines, while Al-Jazirah Conference provided a team of senior psychological specialists who provided psychological support and treatment to about 37 girls who were raped."

Sharif says thousands of families hadn't been able to leave east Gezira, and were facing even worse humanitarian conditions, while the RSF had made some of them human shields out of fear that the army would launch airstrikes on the locations they were gathered in. This had happened in Rufaa, he said.

He called on "international and national humanitarian organisations" to assist "as soon as possible."

This is an edited translation from our Arabic edition. To read the original article click here

Translated by Rose Chacko

This article is taken from our Arabic sister publication, Al-Araby Al Jadeed and mirrors the source's original editorial guidelines and reporting policies. Any requests for correction or comment will be forwarded to the original authors and editors

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