El Haqeeqa
The first specialized periodical magazine dedicated to monitoring and documenting the violations committed by the rebellious Rapid Support Forces militia –
Issue “7” October 2023.
Introduction:
Official Sudanese authorities, represented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Permanent Mission of Sudan to the United Nations, along with various civil society organizations and media outlets, have initiated the monitoring and documentation of violations committed by the Rapid Support Forces militia since the outbreak of the war in Sudan on April 15, 2023. These entities have called on all regional and international human rights organizations to take appropriate actions to condemn the Rapid Support Forces militia, even classifying it as a terrorist organization and banning its activities due to its grave crimes against human rights and international humanitarian law against the Sudanese people.
In its initial response, the U.S. Department of the Treasury decided to impose sanctions on the second-in-command of the Rapid Support Forces militia, Abdul Rahim Daglo, for his forces’ wide-scale crimes, including civilian killings, ethnic cleansing, genocide, sexual violence, and various other human rights abuses in Darfur and Khartoum. This indicates that the international community is beginning to comprehend the seriousness of these groups and the severe violations they have committed against civilians in Sudan. The Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also called for classifying these rebel groups as terrorist organizations in several of its statements.
El Haqeeqa, as the first magazine specialized in monitoring and documenting the violations and crimes of the Rapid Support Forces militia, presents in its seventh issue new figures on the violations committed by this militia against civilians who are exposed to indiscriminate shelling in Khartoum and Darfur. It also reveals shocking new figures on the recruitment of children by the militia and their use as child soldiers in the war. The magazine highlights the actions taken by the Sudanese army in handing over 30 child soldiers used by the militia in compliance with international and humanitarian law and child protection laws, facilitated by the Red Cross.
El Haqeeqa also documents new cases of rape and sexual violence based on reports from official sources, as well as new cases of abduction and torture, exposing the militia’s dark record based on testimonies from detainees held by the militia. It also documents and provides evidence for a new series of crimes committed against civilians, including genocide, ethnic cleansing, targeting of displaced persons in West Darfur, the mobilization of rebels in Kordofan, the closure of the road between Kadugli and El Obeid, and the prevention of supplies reaching civilians. Additionally, it reports on new violations within the healthcare sector, according to reports from official sources and global and local media agencies.
El Haqeeqa is published in three languages to monitor and document the crimes of the Rapid Support Forces militia and present them to the local, regional, and international communities to expose its crimes against civilians in Sudan.
The Eye of El Haqeeqa
Is a platform to monitor the official efforts made to preserve the state’s sovereignty, protect civilians, and provide security and stability in Sudan.
El Haqeeqa Documents:
Civilians Under the Indiscriminate Shelling by the Rebellious Rapid Support Forces Militia in the Capital Khartoum and Darfur
On September 16, 2023, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) stated that the militia targeted civilians in the neighborhoods of Mawrada, Abbasiya, and Banat in Omdurman through indiscriminate shelling, resulting in the injury of 40 civilians.
On September 3, 2023, Sudanese news agencies reported that the Rapid Support Forces militia, in continuation of its terrorist behavior and crimes against civilians, carried out indiscriminate shelling in areas like Karari Al-Balad, Al-Maghaweer, and Al Jarrafa in North Omdurman, leading to the death of 13 civilians and the injury of others. This behavior is shameful and recurrent within the war crimes committed by the militia against civilians.
According to eyewitnesses, the militia attacked the Al-Maseed area, randomly firing on the residents, resulting in the martyrdom of 3 civilians and the injury of others. It’s worth noting that this area had no government forces, confirming the militia’s deliberate targeting of innocent civilians in its war against the Sudanese people.
Residents from the Karari area reported that the militia committed a massacre by heavy artillery shelling on Karari Al-Ajeejah, resulting in the death of 17 civilians, including 5 children.
On September 9, 2023, the Darfur Union in the United Kingdom reported that the Rapid Support Forces attacked civilians in El Fasher through intense shelling, leading to dozens of injuries and 4 deaths.
El Haqeeqa Documents:
The Rebellious Rapid Support Forces Militia Recruited and Violated the Rights of Approximately 7,000 Children and used them in the war by driving Four-Wheel Drive Vehicles with Artillery Pieces
The National Council for Child Welfare stated that the Rapid Support Forces had recruited thousands of children and committed violations against thousands of others.
The Council sent a letter to the President of the Sovereignty Council, the designated Prime Minister, and the Ministers of Federal Governance, Social Development, and Health, as well as the Secretary-General of the United Nations, regarding the recruitment of children by the Rapid Support Forces.
The letter, obtained by “Sudan Tribune,” stated that the Rapid Support Forces engaged in a despicable practice of forcibly recruiting children and forcing them into combat, tying them to the backs of “454” four-wheel drive vehicles.
It noted that this behavior resulted in the deaths of 4,850 children and caused serious and fatal injuries to 1,150 others.
The Rapid Support Forces began recruiting children since the outbreak of the war, initially in camps in East Nile in Khartoum Bahri and South Omdurman. Later, recruitment expanded to include the Umm Rammad area in North Kordofan, Dubbat in South Kordofan, and Abu Zabad in West Kordofan.
Sudanese criminal law and the Child Welfare Council law explicitly prohibit the recruitment of children. The Council called for the prosecution of the Rapid Support Forces before the International Criminal Court for recruiting 6,750 children, some of whom were killed, while others suffered serious injuries. Forced child recruitment by the Rapid Support Forces continues.
Videos widely circulated on social media a few weeks ago showed a child driving a heavily armed military vehicle, encouraged by soldiers.
The Council considered the recruitment of children as “extremist, terrorist, and criminal behavior, punishable under international criminal laws of the United Nations.”
In the same context, the Council filed a complaint with the Public Prosecutor, who heads the investigation committee into Rapid Support Forces violations, urging him to prosecute the forces for crimes committed against children.
The Council stated in the complaint, obtained by “Sudan Tribune,” that the Rapid Support Forces committed serious violations against 6,750 children, resulting in deaths, injuries, displacement, and a lack of medical care.
These violations occurred in the capital Khartoum and the states of Darfur, Kordofan, and are described as “aggressive behavior that has caused a rift in the children’s nurturing families.”
The Council called for the prosecution of the Rapid Support Forces, preparing for accountability before local, regional, and international criminal courts.
El Haqeeqa Documents:
The Red Cross Facilitated the Release of “30” Children at the Request of the Sudanese Armed Forces
According to Al-Arabiya, the International Red Cross stated that it facilitated the release of “30” children at the request of the Sudanese Armed Forces, confirming that they acted as a neutral intermediary to safely transport the children from Khartoum to Medani and hand them over to the Ministry of Social Development.
On September 15, 2023, sources from Al-Madarria, London reported that the Sudanese Armed Forces handed over “30” Sudanese children under the age of 17 to the International Red Cross. All these children were captured during previous battles with the disbanded Rapid Support Forces militia.
The Sudanese Armed Forces, in a statement on September 15, indicated that in compliance with international humanitarian law, human rights law, and child protection law, they handed over “30” children who were minors under the age of “18” and had been held by the armed forces while fighting alongside the Rapid Support Forces militia. The International Red Cross representatives will then deliver them to the National Council for Child Welfare for subsequent reunification with their families.
El Haqeeqa Documents:
Systematic Sabotage of Facilities and Infrastructure: New Crimes by the Rebel Rapid Support Militia
September 17, 2023
The Sudanese Armed Forces reported that a group from the dissolved Hameti militia set fire to the Nile Tower in the middle of the night, igniting a fire after looting many of the tower’s belongings, such as vehicles and important items.
The rebel militia is burning down institutions and destroying infrastructure in response to their repeated defeats and the killing or fleeing of their leaders.
These militias deserve to be classified as terrorist organizations due to the danger they pose to the entire region. They have committed crimes and violations against the Sudanese people, including massacres in El Geneina, the killing of a state governor, the occupation of homes, and the looting of Sudanese citizens’ property and cars, with the majority of their members being of foreign nationalities.
Social media users in Sudan have also shared images of various establishments that were burned and destroyed by the rebel Rapid Support Militia, including the Corinthia Hotel, the Ministry of Justice buildings, the Sudanese Jordanian Bank, the Taxation and Standards Bureau, Khartoum International Airport, and the University of Africa.
El Haqeeqa Documents:
New Cases of Rape in Khartoum by the Rebel Rapid Support Militia, Including a 9-Year-Old Girl
September 13, 2023
A government official revealed new cases of rape that occurred in the capital Khartoum, committed by members of the Rapid Support Forces, including a 9-year-old girl.
The United Nations Human Rights Commissioner, Volker Türk, stated that his office received credible reports of “45” cases of sexual violence related to the conflict, affecting “95” victims, including “19” children. In 78% of the cases, the perpetrators were forces wearing Rapid Support uniforms and affiliated armed individuals.
Suleima Ismail, the director of the Violence Against Women and Children Unit, stated that they documented “the rape of a girl no older than 9 years old by the Rapid Support Forces.” She also mentioned that they had contacted the family of the raped child to provide medical care and treatment.
Suleima noted that cases of rape had decreased in the previous period but were now on the rise due to the increasing frequency of Rapid Support Forces’ home invasions in Khartoum.
Rapid Support Forces face local and international accusations of committing atrocities against civilians over the past five months, including murder, displacement of residents from their homes, sexual violence, forced abduction of women, and compelling them into domestic servitude, as well as targeting civilians.
Reliable sources reported that in September 2023, the Rapid Support Forces “raped a girl in Square 5 in Burri, East Khartoum,” in addition to two cases in the Sariha area in the vicinity of Burri.
Furthermore, resistance committees in El Fasher revealed on September 13, 2023, that the militia assassinated the electrical engineer Hamad Abra in front of his house in the Khur Siyal neighborhood.
Artistic Sudanese networks also reported in September 2023 the assassination of the artist Suleiman Al-Amin by the rebel Rapid Support Militia inside his home in a clear targeting of unarmed civilians.
El Haqeeqa Documents:
New Cases of Arrest and Torture of Innocent Civilians by the Rebel Rapid Support Militia
A statement released by the Sudanese Al-Hilal Club’s management on September 2, 2023, stated that the Rapid Support Forces arrested Council member Sadiq Yousif and removed his family from their home, taking him to an unknown location while he was suffering from critical health conditions.
On the other hand, resistance committees in the Nasir Extension neighborhood on September 20, 2023, confirmed that the citizen Wael Zakaria Mustafa has been under arrest by the Rapid Support Forces since August 19, 2023, with no information available about his whereabouts.
The Halayib Resistance Committees also confirmed the arrest of citizen Abdelrahman Farouk by the Rapid Support Forces, who not only looted his property but also subjected him to torture.
Sudanese media reported the abduction of legal consultant Abu Bakr Al-Fahl by the Rapid Support Militia from his home in the Azhari neighborhood in south Khartoum. The Sudanese Lawyers’ Union and the Arab Lawyers’ Union demanded his defense.
Social media users in Sudan also circulated images of Professor Ahmed Ismail, a well-known botany professor and lecturer at Al-Ahfad University for Girls and the Faculty of Science at the University of Khartoum. He was subjected to an assault, torture by the Rapid Support Forces, and the forceful confiscation of his car in the Omdurman area.
El Haqeeqa Documents:
13 New Mass Graves in El Geneina Resulting from Attacks by the Rapid Support Forces, According to Reliable Reports from the United Nations and Sultan Al-Masalit
The head of the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan, Volker Perthes, announced that the UN Joint Office for Human Rights has received credible reports of at least 13 mass graves in El Geneina and the surrounding areas as a result of attacks by the Rapid Support Forces and Arab militias against civilians, with the majority of these civilians belonging to the Masalit community.
He added that UNITAMS and its UN partners are documenting these violations and noted that if verified, these acts could constitute war crimes.
In his address to the UN Security Council before his resignation, he stated: “I remain deeply concerned about the widespread sexual violence and other forms of violence against women. We need credible investigations and accountability for these crimes, as well as services for survivors. Sudanese women’s groups rightly call for our collective condemnation, as well as prevention and justice.”
Meanwhile, Sultan Al-Masalit, Saad Abdurrahman Bahar, held several meetings with organizations to support the humanitarian aspects of refugees in Western Darfur. There are more than 700 wounded refugees in camps in eastern Chad as a result of the attacks by the Rapid Support Forces.
El Haqeeqa Documented:
Rapid Support Militia Plunders Shurkila Maternity and Childhood Hospital in Northern Kordofan
August 31, 2023
Local media reported that the rebel Rapid Support Militia looted Shurkila Maternity and Childhood Hospital in Northern Kordofan, along with the hospital director’s vehicle and the hospital’s financial revenue, under the threat of arms. They used three armed vehicles, including Dushkas and Kalashnikovs, with a force of thirty people.
This armed force assaulted the hospital staff, threatened them, and went to the mayor’s house to search for him but did not find him. They then headed south, threatening and intimidating civilians.
It’s worth noting that Shurkila is the administrative unit that falls under Um Rawaba locality.
El Haqeeqa Documents:
Hundreds Killed in Ethnic-Motivated Attacks by the Rapid Support Militia in Western Darfur, Sudan, and New Violations in an Internally Displaced Persons Camp in El Fasher
Geneva – London “Al-Mudariya”
September 12, 2023
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said on Tuesday that ethnic-motivated attacks committed by the Rapid Support Militia and allied militias have led to the deaths of hundreds in the state of Western Darfur.
Türk stated before the Human Rights Council in Geneva, “In Western Darfur, ethnic-motivated attacks committed by the Rapid Support Militia and allied militias have resulted in the deaths of hundreds of civilians, most of whom belong to Masalit communities.”
He added, “Such developments reflect a gruesome past that should not be repeated.”
On September 10, 2023, the Observatory of the Youth for Darfur Organization for Human Rights revealed serious violations against civilians in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur.
The Youth for Darfur Organization explained that the rebel militia attacked the displaced persons’ camps in El Fasher, resulting in the deaths of “5” people and the injury of more than “45” others, with injuries ranging from moderate to severe.
The organization further noted that the rebel militia’s violations against innocent civilians have not ceased since the start of the conflict on April 15th, which has led to thousands of deaths and injuries, as well as the displacement of thousands as both refugees and internally displaced persons.
The Human Rights Observatory for Darfur (Mushadd) is closely monitoring and documenting all violations committed by the militia against civilians in Sudan since the outbreak of the war and will pursue legal action against them.
It called on all human rights organizations working in the field of human rights to condemn the barbaric behavior of these rebel militias against innocent Sudanese civilians.
El Haqeeqa Documents:
Rapid Support Militia Closes the Kadugli El Abyad Road, Blocking Supplies to Civilians, and El Hilu Mobilizes Rebels to Expand the Conflict to the South
Khartoum (Reuters) – Residents in South Kordofan state in Sudan have reported that a large rebel force has mobilized its troops on Thursday, raising concerns about the spread of internal conflict in the southern regions of the country.
The rebel force is led by Abdelaziz Al-Hilu, head of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North, and it comprises tens of thousands of men, along with heavy weapons.
Residents have stated that it is not yet clear what stance Al-Hilu may take in the conflict that erupted in the capital Khartoum on April 15 between the army and the Rapid Support Forces. However, the mobilization of his forces has raised fears of clashes.
They also reported that the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North forces entered several army camps around Kadugli, the capital of South Kordofan, prompting the army to reinforce its positions. They further mentioned that the Rapid Support Forces have closed the road between Kadugli and El Obeid, to the north, depriving the city of supplies.
In the capital Khartoum, where the fighting is concentrated, residents have reported sporadic battles. The war has caused a significant humanitarian crisis that threatens to destabilize the region. More than 1.4 million people have been internally displaced in Sudan, with “476,800” others fleeing to neighboring countries.
El Haqeeqa Documents:
Attack on Water and Electricity Stations: “New Violations” by the RSF Militia to Pressure and Displace Civilians
Sudanese media reported that the rebel Rapid Support Militia has targeted the Qamayr water station, the main line that supplies the Thawra districts, the city of Nile, and its surroundings.
The Qamayr water station has been subjected to repeated attacks by the militia, which damaged the electricity transformers in a clear targeting of civilians, imposing a blockade on them and displacing them.
Maintenance work on the water line has been carried out through the joint efforts of the local administration, the Kosti Water Unit, the electricity department, and security forces from the Sudanese army.
The Sudanese army stated in a new statement in September 2023 that the militia, as part of its plan to target civilians, cut off electricity supplies in the Engineers’ areas and several neighborhoods in Old Omdurman, in a clear violation of human rights.
El Haqeeqa Documents:
The RSF Militia Plunders and Loots Citizens’ Homes
September 21, 2023
Sudanese media have published photos documenting the looting and plundering by the rebel Rapid Support Militia of the home of the late Communist Party leader, Mohamed Ibrahim Nugud, as part of their series of violations against civilians.
El Haqeeqa Documents:
US Treasury Department’s Decision on the Deputy Leader of RSF Militia Marks the Beginning of Victory for the Sudanese People Whose Rights Have Been Violated Brutally:
September 6, 2023
Washington – The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) today imposed sanctions on Abdel Rahim Hamdan Dagalo (Abdel Rahim) for leading the Rapid Support Forces, an entity whose members have been involved in acts of violence and human rights violations, including civilian massacres, ethnic killings, and the use of sexual violence. Since the start of the conflict between the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces on April 15, 2023, both sides have failed to implement a ceasefire, and the Rapid Support Forces and their allied militias have been accused of widespread human rights abuses in Darfur and other areas.
Brian E. Nelson, the Treasury Department’s Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing and Financial Intelligence, stated, “Today’s action demonstrates the Treasury Department’s commitment to holding those responsible for serious and widespread human rights violations in Sudan accountable.” “The United States calls on the parties to the conflict to cease hostile actions and violence that perpetuate the painful humanitarian crisis in Sudan.” The United States stands in solidarity with the people of Sudan and against those who commit human rights violations and destabilize the region. These actions also demonstrate the United States’ commitment to enhancing accountability for perpetrators of sexual violence in conflicts, in line with the presidential memorandum signed by President Biden in November 2022.
Abdul Rahim Hamdan Daglo
Abdul Rahim is a senior leader in the Rapid Support Forces and the brother of the Rapid Support Forces Commander, General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. Abdul Rahim was designated under Executive Order 14098 for being a foreign person who was or is a leader, official, senior executive, or board member of the Rapid Support Forces, an entity that has engaged in or whose members have engaged in actions or policies that threaten peace, security, or stability in Sudan during the tenure of this leader, official, senior executive, or board member. Abdul Rahim is also classified as a foreign person who was or is a leader, official, senior executive, or board member of the Rapid Support Forces, an entity that has engaged in or whose members have engaged in the targeting of women, children, or other civilians through acts of violence (including killing, mutilation, torture, rape, or other forms of sexual violence), or abduction, forced displacement, attacks on schools, hospitals, religious sites, or locations where civilians seek refuge, or conduct that would constitute a serious abuse or violation of human rights or a violation of international humanitarian law during the tenure of this leader, official, senior executive, or board member.
Sanctions Consequences
As a result of today’s action, all property and interests in property of the designated individual described above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of the United States are blocked. Persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with individuals and must report to the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Additionally, entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked unless licensed or otherwise exempted by OFAC. OFAC regulations generally prohibit all dealings by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or blocked persons.
Moreover, financial institutions and other persons who engage in certain transactions or activities with sanctioned entities and individuals may expose themselves to sanctions or enforcement actions. The prohibition includes providing any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any such person.
The strength and integrity of OFAC sanctions arise not only from OFAC’s ability to designate individuals and add them to the specially designated nationals list but also from its willingness to remove individuals from the specially designated nationals list consistent with the law.
The ultimate goal of sanctions is not punishment but to effect positive change in behavior. For information on the delisting process, including the specially designated nationals list, please refer to OFAC’s frequently asked question number 897 here.
Experts: Sanctions Imposed Mark the Beginning of Victory for the Sudanese People
According to reports from “El Haqeeqa,” several experts believe that the decision to impose sanctions on the second-in-command of the rogue Rapid Support Forces militia, Abdul Rahim Daglo, by the U.S. Treasury Department, marks the beginning of victory for the Sudanese people whose rights have been brutally violated by this lawless militia.
