Rapid Support Militia Executes Ethnic-Based Elimination of Citizens in Bulbul Abu Gazo, South Darfur
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
El Haqeeqa
The inaugural periodic digital journal, adept in the surveillance and recording of transgressions by the Rapid Support Forces militia, unveiled in three languages, aimed at serving as a pivotal reference for international frameworks and human rights entities committed to the preservation of human rights – Edition “11”.
Introduction:
As the Sudanese nationals commemorate the anniversary of their distinguished independence, they are subjected to the utmost infringement of their rights, orchestrated by the sinister Rapid Support group, which has brazenly infringed upon their dignity, wealth, possessions, and lives.
While the citizens nurtured hopes for the fruitful culmination of the endeavors spearheaded by the leadership of the Sudanese Armed Forces through the IGAD initiative to chart paths to peace, the insurgent Rapid Support group spurned the arranged convergence via IGAD on technical grounds, devoid of any explanations.
Concurrently, the leader of the insurgent group, known as “Hemedti,” convened meetings with several heads of states endorsing the rebellion within Sudan.
Indeed, his forces engaged in the most severe offenses against civilians in the provinces of Al-Jazira, Sennar, Khartoum, and Darfur.
The situation elicited strong disapproval from the Sudanese Sovereign Council, articulated through a communiqué, consequently leading to its abstention from the summit scheduled in Kampala, alongside the suspension of Sudan’s membership in IGAD.
El Haqeeqa magazine, in its 11th edition, meticulously records the most egregious violations perpetrated by the insurgent Rapid Support group, in the regions of “Khartoum, Al-Jazira, Darfur, and Sennar.”
Featuring recent figures, statistics, and insights on genocidal acts in Darfur, the Rapid Support Militia’s transgressions within the healthcare sector in Al-Jazira and Darfur, their attacks on civilians leading to deaths through indiscriminate bombardment, their targeting of Christian community places of worship, and their pillaging of food and medical stores.
El Haqeeqa also meticulously details in this edition a series of recent crimes by the militia, including the destruction of infrastructure, perpetration of new sexual violence incidents in Darfur, detention of women and young girls, and the arrest and torture of political party leaders.
Vision of El Haqeeqa :
A segment dedicated to chronicling the efforts of the Commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces, the Sudanese Sovereignty Council, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in safeguarding civilians and striving for peace in Sudan.
El Haqeeqa Documented:
The World Food Program announces that the Rapid Support Militia has plundered enough sustenance for “1.5” million individuals, with denunciation from the American Agency and condemnation by the Sudanese Foreign Ministry, urging the international community to initiate decisive actions to designate the Rapid Support Militia as a terrorist faction:
December 29, 2023 AD
The World Food Program reported that Rapid Support troops ransacked warehouses and offices, stealing sufficient food to nourish over one and a half million people in Medina.
The Rapid Support assault on Madani propelled over three hundred thousand individuals to once again flee for their lives.
The Regional Director of the World Food Program in East Africa attested that the Sudanese, besieged by despair and fleeing conflict, were stripped of the crucial aid they require, with Sudanese Rapid Support Forces storming warehouses and offices, thoroughly pillaging their contents following the takeover of Wad Madani.
World Food Program depots, housing over 2,500 metric tons of essential nourishment including legumes, sorghum, vegetable oils, and nutritional supplements, were entirely looted.
US remarks on the plundering of UN reserves in Madani
December 29, 2023
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Office of Humanitarian Assistance confirmed that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) plundered life-preserving humanitarian supplies stored in civilian localities, depriving the most vulnerable of essential food and critical healthcare.
It stated that any encroachment upon or theft of aid is unacceptable and constitutes a blatant transgression of international humanitarian law.
The Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs reproves
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs vehemently condemned the recent heinous act committed by the Janjaweed militia, characterized by the looting of World Food Program warehouses on the island and the seizure of over 2,500 tons of food supplies, initially intended to assist those displaced by the militia’s waged conflict against the Sudanese populace.
As elucidated by the World Food Program, these looted provisions could sustain over one and a half million citizens affected by the conflict.
Beyond the Janjaweed militia’s aggression against the towns and villages of Al-Jazeera State, prompting the dislocation of multitudes of citizens and refugees, the militia’s terrorist actions against defenseless civilians in the state and their theft of agricultural machinery will culminate in the inability to harvest vital food crops, with Al-Jazeera State being one of Sudan’s primary cultivation areas. Moreover, the inability to cultivate winter crops, particularly wheat, will exacerbate the nation’s food crisis.
All these acts and the preceding ethnic cleansing crimes, rapes, destruction of infrastructure, and other atrocities are indicative of the genocidal strategy perpetrated by the militia and its external supporters against the Sudanese populace.
We reiterate our plea to the global community to progress beyond mere verbal denunciation of the Janjaweed militia’s crimes and to actively counter these atrocities by designating it as a terrorist entity, holding its supporters as complicit, and accountable for its terrorism.
El Haqeeqa Documented:
The terrorist Rapid Support militia perpetrates random killings and genocide against civilians in Darfur and Al-Jazeera, condemned by the United Nations, with new insights provided by international and local bodies.
“1”
- Reuters discloses identities of militia commanders implicated in the transgressions:
January 2, 2024 AD
Reuters reported that the Masalit community in western Sudan is being systematically displaced through a campaign of bombardment and massacres conducted by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and their allied Arab militias. Reuters pinpointed six primary commanders involved in the hostilities.
Survivors have pinpointed six commanders from the Arab paramilitary and militia ranks, whom they accuse of orchestrating ethnically targeted assaults in the Sudanese metropolis of El Geneina, resulting in thousands of deaths and the displacement of hundreds of thousands from the nation.
These commanders and militia chiefs orchestrated their troops to assault camps for the displaced and densely populated city sectors with rockets and mortars, and were observed orchestrating their forces during these onslaughts, as per over 20 attack survivors now residing in refugee camps along Chad’s frontier with Sudan.
The onslaughts primarily targeted the African ethnic group of Masalit, which constituted the majority in El Geneina until the attacks coerced its inhabitants to massively vacate the city. The violence, initiating in late April and intensifying in June, witnessed a resurgence in early November.
Among the leaders identified by survivors are members of the Arab-dominant Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary group gaining ascendancy in the escalating conflict with the Sudanese Armed Forces for national control. Other identified figures include leaders of Arab militias allied with the Rapid Support Forces. These militias have been implicated in recurrent ethnic violence against the Masalit and other dark-skinned African tribes over the past two decades. Earlier this month, the United States acknowledged the Rapid Support Forces and their allied militias as perpetrators of crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing.
In a plethora of interviews conducted by Reuters since the commencement of the Masalit expulsion campaign in April, survivors recounted harrowing tales of carnage in El Geneina and along the 30-kilometer trajectory to Chad’s border, as people sought refuge. In assaults by the Rapid Support Forces and associated Arab militias, survivors recounted instances of women being collectively violated, infants brutally murdered, individuals being mowed down by vehicles, burnt alive within their residences, and picked off by snipers in the streets.
Among the Rapid Support Force leaders identified by the survivors is General Abdel Rahman Jumaa, commander of the paramilitary forces in West Darfur, with El Geneina as its capital. Five eye-witnesses in the city reported spotting Jumaa at the locales of attacks on Masalit civilians between April and June. Separately, the US government in September stated that forces under his command were implicated in the assassination of the region’s governor, a Masalit politician, in mid-June, an allegation Jumaa refutes.
Survivors also named several other pivotal figures leading RSF and militia operations in the city: Idris Hassan, a former RSF commander in West Darfur now holding a senior RSF position; Masar Aseel, a prominent Arab tribal leader; the slain deputy governor, Al-Tijani Karshoum; Arab militia chief Musa Angier; And a militiaman known as (Karshum), translating to “hyena.”
In July, Karim Khan, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, addressed the UN Security Council, stating that his office had initiated inquiries into alleged atrocities in Darfur, encompassing sexual violence and child-targeted crimes.
Per a source privy to the investigation, the International Criminal Court is probing three individuals identified by survivors in this account: Jumaa, Karshoum, and Aseel. The source, speaking anonymously due to the sensitive nature of the issue, mentioned that these three are under suspicion, implying that ICC investigators possess information suggesting their involvement in crimes. However, this does not guarantee their eventual prosecution, the source noted.
Reuters was unable to independently authenticate all narratives concerning the roles of Rapid Support Forces and Arab militia leaders in the violence. Nevertheless, witness accounts consistently delineated patterns of violence and the sequence of events during the city’s attack. In certain instances, multiple individuals provided akin details about the specific leaders identified, such as the type of vehicle they used, their attire, the weaponry their troops wielded, or the locales where they were observed.
To ensure their safety from potential retribution, Reuters withheld the full identities of the survivors interviewed for this report. The border between Chad and Sudan is permeable, and refugees have reported sightings of Rapid Support Forces members in markets on the Chadian side of the border in recent times.
Testimonies gathered by Reuters since the onset of this year’s cleansing campaign against the Masalit suggest that the campaign was systematic and coordinated. Masalit individuals, ranging from infants to adults, were marked for execution. Female human rights advocates in the city were pursued and violated. Zones predominantly inhabited by Masalit and refugee camps were subjected to bombardment.
In September, the United States levied sanctions against RSF Deputy Commander Abdel Rahim Hamdan Dagalo, citing his association with the RSF’s transgressions against civilians in Sudan, including sexual violence related to the conflict and ethnically targeted murders. Daglo, refuting these allegations, is the sibling of Rapid Support Forces leader Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, often referred to as Hemedti. Notably, Hemedti did not face any punitive measures.
The strife erupted in Darfur shortly after hostilities commenced in the nation’s capital, Khartoum, between the Sudanese military and the Rapid Support Forces. The contention arose over a disagreement concerning a strategy to amalgamate their forces, a move intended as part of the transition towards democracy. As per the records of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the conflict has led to the displacement of over seven million individuals from their homes since its inception.
“2”
United Nations Advisor on Genocide Prevention Reports: Civilian Area Clashes Lead to Arbitrary Fatalities
The UN Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide communicated that conflicts in Wad Madani culminated in arbitrary killings, civilian assaults, injuries, plundering, and detentions.
According to Al-Sudani newspaper, the United Nations Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide, Alice Wairimu Nderitu, vocalized her deep concern regarding the grave reports of ethnically charged violence and intentional assaults on medical staff and facilities. In a proclamation, she expressed her profound unease about the intensification of violent acts in Sudan, notably in Wad Madani, El Fasher, and Nyala. She noted that the confrontations in Wad Madani have resulted in indiscriminate fatalities, civilian assaults, injuries, looting, and arrests, amidst allegations of identity-based perpetrations. She further reiterated her apprehensions regarding the ongoing proliferation of violence potentially engulfing the entire nation.
“3”
Mashad Observatory Discloses New Transgressions by Rapid Support Militia in West Darfur
January 6, 2024 AD
The Mashad Observatory for Human Rights and the Youth for Darfur Organization conveyed profound dismay over the acts of ethnic cleansing executed by the Rapid Support militias in the state of West Darfur.
The Observatory condemned the inhumane actions of the militia, showcased in a video clip it secured, which documented the militia’s atrocities against civilians in the Azerni organization, east of El Geneina city in West Darfur state. The footage depicted militia members torturing and demeaning civilians, violating their dignity in a ghastly manner incongruent with basic human decency.
It emphasized that the targeting of tribes and civilians with torture, violence, and brutal killings is a practice necessitating robust confrontation and earnest efforts for resolution by state and security authorities, emphasizing their role in protecting civilians.
“4”
Prominent Among Them, the Perpetrator of the Mass Extermination of Masalit Tribe Members: International Criminal Court Initiates Arrest Warrant Issuance for Rebel Rapid Support Forces Leaders
Legal informants revealed to Al-Sudani newspaper that the International Criminal Court is progressing towards issuing arrest warrants for three accused leaders of the rebel Rapid Support Forces. One is a field commander, another is an official accountable for the massacres and liquidations against thousands from the Masalit tribe in the capital of West Darfur, El Geneina.
Following the resurgence of warfare in Darfur, as declared by its prosecutor, Karim Khan, the court is investigating widespread violations constituting war crimes and genocide exclusively in the states of Darfur. This focus is despite the presence of violations in other war-affected areas, owing to the court’s mandate to only probe into crimes occurring or anticipated in Darfur, as per the referral resolution (1593) issued by the UN Security Council in March 2005. This resolution mandates the referral of the Darfur case to the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
According to information from Al-Sudani, a delegation from the International Criminal Court conducted thorough investigations in the displacement camps of the city of Adre, eastern Chad, visiting thrice in the past three months.
Sudan has been embroiled in a conflict between the army and the Rapid Support Forces for approximately nine months. International entities, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have accused the Rapid Support Forces of engaging in violations tantamount to war crimes and genocide against ethnic communities, including the Masalit. They have documented mass graves in various locales, as well as instances of rape.
Per the information, the court listened to the testimony of Dar Masalit Bahr al-Din authorities and hundreds of victims who narrated the crimes perpetrated in the state of West Darfur.
“5”
Doctors Without Borders: Injured Sudanese Refugees in Chadian Camps Report Ethnic Targeting by Arab Militias, Identifying as Masalit
The Medical and Epidemiological Research Center of Doctors Without Borders garnered insights from Sudanese refugees in Chad about the violence that swept through El Geneina, West Darfur, last June.
The organization disclosed that the study’s findings indicated a twenty-fold surge in the mortality rate from April onwards, peaking at 225 deaths per 10,000 people daily in June.
The report highlighted that 83% of the fatalities were males, and 82% succumbed to firearm injuries. The majority of the deaths transpired in El Geneina, with a significant portion occurring en route to Chad.
The study also revealed that one in every ten males aged between 15 and 44 was reported missing during this timeframe.
Doctors Without Borders, in collaboration with Chadian health authorities, treated approximately 1,500 Sudanese in the surgical unit of Adre Hospital since the previous June. This period marked the largest influx of wounded individuals in the Adre area, with a record 858 war-injured individuals received between June 15 and 17, marking the highest mortality rate ever documented. Numerous injured individuals reported being targeted by Arab militias due to their Masalit ethnicity.
El Haqeeqa Documented:
Unit Director for Combating Violence Highlights: (142) Recorded Cases of Sexual Assault since War Onset, with Survivors Reluctant to Testify Due to Societal Constraints
Professor Salima Ishaq, the head of Sudan’s Unit for Combating Violence against Women and Children, disclosed that the unit has documented a total of 142 instances of sexual violence since the war’s inception.
This revelation followed reports submitted to the unit, indicating that members of the Rapid Support Forces were responsible for at least two instances of sexual assault in mid-December in Al-Jazira state.
In a January 2024 interview with Radio Dabanga, Salima noted that their unit’s estimations suggest that the reported cases represent a mere two percent of the actual instances of sexual violence, suggesting a potential total of up to seven thousand cases.
She stated their current focus is on documenting cases of rape and sexual violence and relaying this information to the United Nations and other relevant bodies.
However, Salima highlighted the reluctance of survivors to come forward and testify due to societal constraints, noting that in some instances, the victims are willing, but their families oppose the idea.
She also mentioned other deterrents to reporting such cases, including fear of retaliation and the breakdown of state policing and judicial entities post-war outbreak.
Salima mentioned that some victims who faced attacks in Khartoum opted to report in Gezira State, but this became increasingly challenging as the war extended to Gezira State as well.
She expressed concerns that the widening scope of the war might lead to a general reluctance to report incidents anywhere in Sudan. However, she emphasized the importance of encouraging victims to share their information and testimonies with the relevant authorities to facilitate justice.
El Haqeeqa Documented:
Contrary to Local Customs and Traditions, Rebel Rapid Support Militia Abducts Pregnant Employee in East Darfur, as Sudan Doctors Committee Highlights Grave Risks for Pregnant Women Displaced by the Militia’s Acts.
In an act starkly against the war customs and the moral fabric of the people of Darfur, an armed faction suspected to be part of the Rapid Support militia abducted Salma Ibrahim “The Ranger” today, right outside her workplace where she serves as the financial head of the Alite organization, in Al Daein.
A source close to the situation confirmed that Salma, who is in her final month of pregnancy, was kidnapped. It’s noted that Salma’s husband, Dr. Al-Toum Hasa Al-Rassoul, who is currently a lecturer at Al Daein University and a former director general at the Ministry of Culture and Information, might have had previous altercations with the rebel militia, which might have triggered the abduction. This militia was also responsible for opening fire in front of his residence during their assault on the 20th Infantry Division in Al-Daein. This incident marks the first abduction of a woman since the militia’s insurgency against the armed forces.
Sudanese Doctors: 167,000 Pregnant Women in Dire Straits Due to Displacement
“Reported by Voice of Sudan”
The preliminary committee of the Sudan Doctors Syndicate reported that roughly 167,000 pregnant women are facing severe hardships, including hunger, thirst, and inadequate medical care after being displaced from Al-Jazira State to Sennar and Gedaref. These conditions pose significant health risks to both the mother and the unborn child during the displacement period.
The committee noted that about 30,000 children are expected to be born in the upcoming three months in Sudan, in the absence of adequate medical care, such as basic vaccination services. This lack of medical support heightens the risk of complications from childhood and endemic diseases.
The ongoing war has led to the largest child displacement crisis globally, forcing nearly 3.5 million children to flee their homes in regions including Khartoum, Darfur, Kordofan, and recently Gezira State due to its occupation by the Rapid Support. This has led to mass displacement across numerous Sudanese states, with 757,000 crossing borders. The disruption of essential services such as health, education, nutrition, safe water, sanitation, and hygiene has forced many to flee repeatedly in search of a truly safe haven.
El Haqeeqa Documented:
Evangelical Church Leaders Attribute Moral and Legal Responsibility to Rapid Support Militia for Burning Church in Gezira State, as Church Council Denounces Militia’s Actions and Supports Sudanese Army
January 13, 2024
Unidentified individuals ignited the main building of the Evangelical Church in Madani city, Gezira state, resulting in the destruction of all official documents. The church’s leadership assigned legal and moral responsibility for the incident to the Rapid Support Forces, citing their control over the city.
The North Kordofan State Church Council condemned the Rapid Support Forces’ brutal actions in several Sudanese states under their occupation.
Ismail Al-Zubair, head of the Church Council, stated, “In my over sixty years, we have never witnessed these types of violations and atrocities committed by the Rapid Support Forces against all Sudanese.”
Al-Zubair added, “We stand by the army in its struggle and pray for its victory, as it has ensured our safety and peaceful slumber in our homes.”
These comments were made during his speech at a meeting of the North Kordofan state government, which included various activities and members of the Supreme Committee for Popular Mobilization and Defense of the Homeland.
El Haqeeqa Documented:
Through Bombing, Looting, and Terrorizing, Militia Targets Civilians in States of South Darfur, Khartoum, and Al-Jazira
“1”
Rapid Support Militia Executes Ethnic-Based Elimination of Citizens in Bulbul Abu Gazo, South Darfur
January 1, 2024
Sudanese media reported that the Rapid Support militia carried out ethnic-based executions in the Bulbul Abjazo area, South Darfur state. Social media platforms shared videos and photos documenting this horrific event.
“2”
Rapid Support Militia Bombards Journalists’ City
December 21, 2023
Sudanese sources reported that the Rapid Support Forces bombarded the journalists’ city in Bamdurman, north of the Karari locality. The attack caused severe damage to journalist Hatem Hassan’s house and car. Journalists Azhari Othman, of the Press and Sports Council and secretary of the Al-Mawradah Al-Omdurmani Club, and Tarfa Hassan were injured and were subsequently taken to Al-Naw Hospital. The militia also targeted the Sabreen market in Omdurman, the sole market catering to the local population’s needs, with four mortar shells, causing extensive destruction.
“3”
Sennar Youth Assembly Reports Militia Invasion of Villages
The Sennar Youth Assembly reported continued militia aggression in certain villages, marked by theft, looting, and the intimidation of civilians. They noted that life in the city had stabilized somewhat, with markets, some pumps, hospitals, and pharmacies resuming operation. However, the militia continued to exploit certain villages, engaging in theft, looting, and intimidating citizens, with intermittent network outages and displacement, while the army stationed itself within Sennar city.
“4”
Emergency Lawyers Highlight Militia’s Violations in Al-Jazira State
Quoted from: Voice of Sudan
Emergency lawyers reported the Rapid Support Forces’ severe impact on the living and humanitarian conditions of citizens in Al-Jazira State’s villages and cities. They documented incidents of killing, looting, and theft in areas including the city, Arab, and Warbaji. The lawyers reported the killing of 11 Arab citizens in these areas, along with extensive looting. The repeated instances of robbery, murder, and threats induced widespread fear among citizens, leading to market closures and the militia’s control over farmers’ and herders’ crops, fertilizers, machinery, and livestock, pushing the human situation to the brink of collapse.
“5”
Wad Madani Resistance Committees: Rapid Support Militia’s Fatal Attack on a Young Man in Rifaa
Quoted from Al-Sudani newspaper
The Wad Madani Resistance Committees highlighted the instability and lack of safety in Al-Jazira State since its occupation by the Rapid Support Militia. The state’s residents have been enduring multiple attacks, including robbery, looting, murder, and displacement. The committees detailed an incident where a Rapid Support Militia unit, armed with full military equipment, attempted to steal a vehicle in Rifa’a city. The unit fired random shots, resulting in Luay Awad Muhammad Ahmed Al-Fadani sustaining a stomach wound and subsequently succumbing to his injuries, thus martyred.
“6”
Civil Resistance Committees Expose Home Burglaries and Car Thefts by Rapid Support Militia
The Civil Resistance Committees have reported that the Rapid Support militia is actively engaging in the theft and looting of citizens’ cars right from their homes across all neighborhoods and villages. The militia’s activities include continuous home raids, instilling terror among families, women, and children, and coercive extortion at gunpoint.
The committees highlighted the ongoing looting of markets, stores, and homes by bands of thieves in collusion with the Rapid Support Militia.
In their field report, the committees disclosed that the Rapid Support militia is conducting extensive arrest campaigns, subjecting citizens to all forms of torture. Some residences have been transformed into military barracks, and numerous snipers have been positioned within these homes.
The report also noted numerous injuries and fatalities among citizens due to indiscriminate bombardment by the Armed Forces Air Force, which no longer distinguishes between military and civilian targets.
Moreover, the report confirmed the complete shutdown of all public and private hospitals, health centers, and pharmacies in Wad Damani city and most of the surrounding villages, with most having been plundered.
“7”
Al-Hasahisa: Rapid Support Militia’s Continued Looting and Market Closure
Quoted from: Al-Sudani
The Al-Hasahisa Resistance Committees have reported ongoing infractions by the Rapid Support Militia, targeting homes for theft of valuables, including mobile phones and cash.
Field reports indicate the public market remains closed following comprehensive looting of goods from shops and subsequent damages inflicted by thieves and gangs. Consequently, the supply of goods to the market has halted.
The report detailed the partial reopening of bakeries in the market and residential areas, though there’s a looming threat of flour shortage due to rampant looting.
It was also reported that an internal conflict among Rapid Support Forces members in the Arquit neighborhood led to the death of two members. The following day, several unarmed citizens from the neighborhood were apprehended by the Rapid Support Forces, accused of killing its members, and subjected to torture and death threats. However, intervention by the commander of the Rapid Support Forces in the region prevented further escalation.
The Al-Hasahisa Resistance Committees confirmed the continued operation of Al-Hasahisa Hospital’s emergency, dialysis, and children’s departments, with efforts underway to reactivate other departments.
“8”
Militia’s Aggression in Al-Mualiq: Terrorizing Women, Abducting Young Men, and Killing Citizens
Quoted from: Voice of Sudan
January 7, 2024
The Al-Maaliq area in Al-Jazeera State fell victim to a violent assault by the Rapid Support militia. Eyewitness accounts describe the militia storming homes, terrorizing women and children, and employing heavy weaponry.
Reports indicate that a significant number of young men were forcibly taken to undisclosed locations by the militia. When their families attempted to reach them via phone, militia members chillingly responded, “They have been liquidated.”
“9”
Meanwhile, the Karari Resistance Committees have reported that the Rapid Support militia has targeted shelter centers, which have been sanctuaries for citizens fleeing conflict zones.
El Haqeeqa Documented:
Militia’s New Wave of Crimes Against Healthcare: Destruction of Al-Hasahissa Maternity Hospital, Shutdown of Health Centers, and Looting of Medical Supplies in Al-Jazeera State
January 3, 2024
The Humanitarian Aid Commission has revealed that the Rapid Support Forces seized a substantial stock of medical supplies in Al-Jazeera State, designated for central and neighboring states. This confiscated stock, which includes medicines and serums sufficient to last six months for the entire nation, poses a dire threat to hundreds of thousands of patients, particularly those with chronic and incurable diseases, if immediate action is not taken to distribute these supplies to the intended hospitals and health centers.
The Commission vehemently condemned what it termed the barbaric actions of the Rapid Support Forces, actions that grossly violate humanitarian principles and jeopardize innocent, defenseless civilians. The Commission holds the Rapid Support Forces entirely accountable for any destruction or theft of these medical supplies and consumables.
Furthermore, the Commission has issued an appeal to international organizations, United Nations agencies, and donor countries, requesting assistance to compensate for the loss of this critical medical stock.
Red Cross Encounters Challenges in Retrieving Medical Supplies from Madani
On January 11, 2024, Sudanese Health Minister Haitham Mohamed Ibrahim announced that the International Committee of the Red Cross faced significant obstacles in recovering the medical stock from Madani, which had been plundered by the Rapid Support militia. A collaborative session between the Health Ministry and the Red Cross was convened to strategize the retrieval of essential medications, medical supplies, and intravenous solutions from Madani in Al-Jazira State for distribution across Sudan.
Minister Ibrahim emphasized the strategic importance of the medical stock in Wad Madani for the entire nation and the ongoing efforts to engage international organizations for its recovery. Similar previous attempts to retrieve medicines from Khartoum had been unsuccessful, but efforts persist to expedite the recovery of the medical stock from Wad Madani to cater to the needs of citizens with chronic conditions.
Arbaji Resistance Committees Report Prolonged Hospital Closure and Service Withdrawals
In January 2024, the Arbaji Resistance Committees disclosed a 13-day continuous closure of the local hospital, the suspension of all private dispensaries, and the partial closure of pharmacies operating for limited hours due to the siege imposed by the Rapid Support forces. They noted the failure of Rapid Support in returning stolen items, including vehicles, leading to a complete halt in local mobility and transportation.
Local media showcased footage depicting the destruction inflicted on the maternity hospital in Al-Hasahissa by the rebel Rapid Support militia.
El Haqeeqa Documented:
New Wave of Systematic Destruction of Institutions and Infrastructure; Rights Observatory Holds Hemedti Accountable for Force’s Crimes, Urging International Classification as a Terrorist Group
The University of Gezira disclosed a staggering level of destruction, attributing the devastation to the Rapid Support Forces. Reported by the Voice of Sudan, the university suffered looting and theft across multiple campuses, including Nashishiba, Preparatory School, Hantoub, Abu Haraz Colleges Complex, and the Hasahisa College of Education.
The statement from the university outlined the comprehensive theft of its administration, academic and student affairs offices, deanships, professors’ offices, college administrations, savings bank, branches, farm, and the International Hall (Al-Razi). It also reported the theft of all university vehicles, the looting of professors’ homes across the campuses, and the devastation of community service-providing university institutions in Wad Medani.
The university described the level of destruction as unimaginable and held the Rapid Support Forces, along with its members and allies, accountable for the calamity that befell Gezira University.
On January 9, 2024, the Sudanese army, in an official statement, announced that the Rapid Support Militia, perpetuating its destructive trend against both public and private assets and targeting civilian structures nationwide, set ablaze the Sahel and Sahara Bank tower in Khartoum, leading to its complete destruction.
The armed forces pointed out the expanding scope of the militia’s violations of international humanitarian law, encompassing various war crimes against civilians and protected properties. They called for the militia’s classification as a terrorist organization by regional and international entities.
The tower, a prominent landmark in Khartoum, housed several private and public companies, along with the Sahel and Sahara Bank. Additionally, the militia was reported to have set fire to the Al-Jili refinery for the fifth occasion.
Human Rights Observatory Implicates Hemedti in Atrocities Committed by His Forces
January 5, 2024
The Sudanese Observatory for Human Rights has attributed the entirety of the war crimes and human rights violations perpetrated by the Rapid Support Forces to its commander, Mohamed Hamdan “Hemedti.” The observatory has designated him as the primary figure responsible for the multitude of atrocities committed.
The report detailed that the Rapid Support Forces have engaged in crimes against humanity, war crimes, genocide, and massacres, blatantly disregarding global conscience, humanitarian norms, conventions, and religious teachings. It was documented that the forces invaded civilian homes and public facilities, looting everything from cars to shops, and wreaked havoc on infrastructure, including water and electricity sources.
The Observatory urgently called upon the international community to recognize the Rapid Support as a terrorist militia and to act decisively and without delay to halt the ongoing bloodshed.
El Haqeeqa Documented:
Terrorist Rapid Support Militia Arrests and Tortures Political Leaders
January 10, 2024
The Supreme Council of Beja and Independent Mayors reported severe torture inflicted upon Jamal Hanqaq, leader of the Beja Congress for Justice and Democracy Party, by the Rapid Support militia. Hanqaq was subjected to torture, burning, brutal beatings, and racial insults, indicative of the militia’s animosity towards the people of eastern Sudan.
Abdul Basit Mansour Wad Hashi, Information Secretary of the Council, emphasized that the assault on Jamal reflects the militia’s regional prejudice and ingrained hatred, not due to any wrongdoing by Jamal, but due to deep-seated contempt within the militia.
In a separate incident, a force from the Rapid Support militia raided the farm of Communist Party leader and Central Committee member, Siddiq Farouk. Farouk and four associates were brutally tortured and left handcuffed inside a container after being robbed. In a message circulated on social networks, Farouk detailed the harrowing ordeal, including being held at gunpoint, blindfolded, and subjected to a barrage of racist insults and threats. Despite the threats, Farouk managed to escape and assist his companions, revealing the extent of violence and lawlessness inflicted by the militia.
Eye of El Haqeeqa :
Al-Burhan Informs Lamamra of Atrocities by Rapid Support Militia; Sovereignty Council Declines IGAD Summit Invite
The head of the Sovereignty Council, Al-Burhan, reported the violations and atrocities committed by the Rapid Support Militia to Lamamra. In response to these revelations, the Sovereignty Council declined the invitation to the 42nd IGAD Emergency Summit, and the Sudanese Foreign Ministry voiced its strong disapproval of the IGAD Secretariat’s invitation to the leader of the Janjaweed militia to attend the summit, highlighting the gravity of the situation and the need for international attention and action.
Press Release
The Sudanese Sovereignty Council has acknowledged receipt of an invitation from IGAD for a summit scheduled in Kampala, Uganda, on January 18, 2024. The summit aims to deliberate on the ongoing situation in Somalia and the current state of affairs in Sudan. In light of this, the Sudanese government has articulated its stance as follows:
- The government of Sudan has consistently engaged constructively with all peace initiatives, particularly those spearheaded by IGAD. Nevertheless, there’s notable dissatisfaction with IGAD’s failure to adhere to the resolutions of the last summit held in Djibouti, specifically concerning the proposed meeting between the head of the Sovereignty Council and the rebel leader. The abrupt cancellation of the December 28, 2024 meeting, under the pretext of the rebel leader’s inability to attend due to technical issues – despite his concurrent tours in several IGAD nations – remains unaddressed and unexplained.
- The Sudanese government posits that convening a summit to address the situation in Sudan is premature, especially without the actualization of the resolutions from the prior summit.
- The government reaffirms its stance that the situation in Sudan is a domestic affair. While the nation remains open to regional initiatives, it does not relinquish its sovereign right to resolve internal issues independently.
Sudanese Foreign Ministry Criticizes IGAD’s Invitation to Janjaweed Militia Leader and Rejects UN Secretary-General’s Engagement with Militia Leader
In a statement released on January 13, 2024, the Sudanese Foreign Ministry strongly criticized IGAD for extending an invitation to the leader of the Janjaweed militia to participate in the 42nd emergency summit. The ministry highlighted this as a stark violation of the IGAD Agreement and a disregard for the principles of international organization operations. This invitation not only overlooks the numerous atrocities – including genocide, ethnic cleansing, and sexual violence – committed by the Janjaweed militia but also undermines the foundational objective of IGAD, which is to foster regional peace, security, and integration among member states.
The ministry pointed out the incongruity of involving a group with a known terrorist and criminal background in a platform meant exclusively for sovereign government leaders. This move by IGAD, the ministry argues, not only jeopardizes the organization’s credibility but also inadvertently endorses terrorism, genocide, and ethnic cleansing. Such an act could embolden groups responsible for the current regional turmoil.
In response to this situation, the ministry stated that Sudan is reassessing its relationship with IGAD in light of the organization’s deviation from its foundational principles and international law.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs communicated to the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy, Ramtane Lamamra, Sudan’s disapproval of Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ interaction with Rapid Support Militia leader Mohamed Hamdan Hemedti. Foreign Minister Ali Al-Sadiq, after meeting the envoy in Port Sudan, conveyed the significant discontent and rejection this contact has sparked among the Sudanese populace, due to the militia’s track record of severe violations condemned by various United Nations bodies and the broader international community.
Al-Burhan Highlights Violations and Atrocities by Rapid Support Militia
Al-Burhan has briefed Lamamra on the extensive violations and atrocities committed by the Rapid Support militia, underscoring the profound impact on the state, its institutions, and the civilian populace. This briefing forms a part of the ongoing discourse aimed at addressing the current crisis and seeking viable solutions.
Port Sudan: January 14, 2024
In a comprehensive meeting today in Port Sudan, General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, the Chairman of the Transitional Sovereignty Council, detailed to Ramatane Lamamra, the Special Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General for Sudan, the extensive violations and atrocities perpetrated by the militia. These acts, he explained, were directed against the state, its institutions, infrastructure, and the property and dignity of its citizens, resulting in their displacement and humiliation.
Lieutenant General Al-Burhan provided an in-depth account of the sequence of events before, during, and after the conflict, giving Lamamra a full perspective on the nation’s recent history.
In the meeting, the Chairman of the Sovereignty Council discussed the concerted efforts aimed at achieving a peaceful resolution. He reaffirmed the government’s dedication to navigating the transitional period towards democracy, culminating in general elections. He also highlighted the outcomes of the Jeddah Platform, along with the initiatives from neighboring countries and IGAD, in the face of regional and international interventions that influenced the recent summit’s results.
On his part, Lamamra conveyed a sense of optimism regarding the prospects for peace and stability in Sudan. He underscored the potential for ending the war and restoring normalcy through the collective endeavors of the Sudanese people and all parties genuinely invested in the welfare of Sudan.
It is noteworthy that the leader of the militia excused himself from a scheduled meeting with General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan on December 28, 2023, citing technical reasons. This occurred while he was engaged in discussions with several leaders of African countries that are supporting the militia in its conflict against the Sudanese populace.
