In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Al Hakika
An exclusive periodical electronic magazine, crafted to meticulously track and document the breaches by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) rebels. It is published in three languages, serving as a key reference for regional and international organizations, as well as mechanisms dedicated to the protection of human rights across the globe.
Issue “15”
Introduction
The United Nations Security Council has expressed deep concern over an imminent attack planned by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their allied militias on the city of El Fasher, home to hundreds of thousands of people who have fled violence in Sudan.
At the same time, the RSF militias have imposed a tight siege on the city of El Fasher in an effort to seize control, burning hundreds of villages and blockading Mellit, practicing a policy of starving the population according to local reports.
Global reports have confirmed that the RSF has called in allied militias and fighters from neighboring Libya to attack El Fasher, promising them the spoils of war in return for capturing the city, despite warnings from the United Nations and the Security Council.
Human Rights Watch has issued a report on the genocide committed by the RSF and allied militias against the Masalit ethnic group, titled “The Masalit Will Never Return Home Again.”
The Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs commended the findings of Human Rights Watch in its recent report on West Darfur, confirming that there has been global negligence toward the atrocities committed by the terrorist militia, particularly the crimes of genocide, ethnic cleansing, crimes against humanity, and widespread sexual violence. The ministry has consistently alerted the international community to these serious consequences, as stated in its report dated May 11, 2024.
The report, which calls for international sanctions against the militia leader, his deputy, and their subordinates, aligns with demands from prominent US legislators for international criminal justice for militia leaders. The current escalation of the terrorist militia’s attacks on El Fasher, their scorched earth policy, complete destruction of villages, and continuous shelling of residential neighborhoods devoid of military presence, are clear outcomes of international inaction against the militia’s crimes.
El Fasher is known to host the largest number of displaced persons fleeing atrocities in other parts of Darfur. Therefore, targeting El Fasher equates to targeting the displaced and civilians, underscoring the militia and its mercenaries’ persistence from Sahel countries in committing genocide and ethnic cleansing against specific population groups, as described in the aforementioned human rights report.
The RSF continues to commit atrocities in the capital and other states, targeting safe villages and subjecting their residents, particularly women and children, to horrors and violations, including the killing of innocents. Recent local and international official reports, documented by the magazine “Al-Hakika,” specializing in monitoring and documenting RSF violations, in its 15th issue, revealed the RSF’s collaboration with Haftar militias in the most severe transnational human crimes, including internationally banned human trafficking. The reports also include statistics on cases of rape, kidnapping, and enslavement of women and girls. The RSF committed massacres against more than 140 people in a single village in Al-Jazirah State, and “Al-Hakika” documented international reports of village burnings in El Fasher, obstruction of humanitarian aid, and bringing in mercenaries from Libya to seize El Fasher, promising them loot in return. The RSF also used children in warfare, taking them hostage to demand ransom in clear violation of international laws and norms.
Studies documented by “Al-Hakika” confirm mass executions carried out by the militia against girls from the Masalit and Zaghawa tribes, as well as genocide in West Darfur. The violations against the health sector and the conditions of displaced persons in camps, subjected to acts of violence, were also documented.
The Eye of Al Hakika Documents Victory Signs and Return Arrangements
The Eye of Al Hakika documents the victory signs and return arrangements, along with the accompanying executive actions to provide basic services and ensure the safe return of citizens to the city of Omdurman under the hashtags #Returning and #Return_of_Health.

Documented by Al-Hakika
Cross-Border Crime: Collaboration Between RSF Militias and Haftar’s Militias in Human Trafficking
Investigation by Al-Araby Al-Jadeed / Follow-up by Al-Hakika
May 13, 2024
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia collaborates with their counterparts in Libya, affiliated with retired General Khalifa Haftar. They operate a human trafficking route between the two countries, profiting millions of dollars.

• Idris Osman, a Sudanese man in his fifties, reached Libya after paying $1,500 to a human trafficker in his country who works with RSF militants controlling the border areas between Sudan and Libya. Osman nearly perished on his journey to Europe, which began in late 2019 from El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur in western Sudan.
  However, the dangers he faced were nothing compared to his detention upon arrival in Kufra, southeastern Libya. He was held in a detention center by militants affiliated with General Khalifa Haftar’s militia, who demanded a $3,000 ransom for his release. Osman recounted to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, “The RSF sold me to Haftar’s militia, who then contacted my family for the ransom.” He confirmed active human trafficking at the Sudanese-Libyan border, consistent with the report “Multiple Harm: The Impact of EU Migration Policies on Central Sahara Routes” published by the Dutch Institute of International Relations in September 2018.
  The report states, “RSF members hand over migrants to Libyan human traffickers who detain and torture them, pressuring their relatives to pay for their release or forcing them into unpaid labor.” It also describes the case of a Darfuri man and his wife, among 100 migrants from different countries, handed over to Libyan militants in military uniforms, transported in four small trucks to a farm near Umm al-Aranib in southern Libya. They were told, “We know you want to go to Europe, but you are our slaves. You have been sold to us.”
  An RSF member admitted to receiving money for each migrant handed over to their partners, whether Libyan militias or civilians. The report also highlighted the involvement of the “Subul al-Salam Battalion,” a Salafist force under Haftar’s command, in these operations.
  Coordination Between Militias and Human Traffickers
  Libyan human trafficker Salem Al-Zwai, known as “Ibn Ghareeba,” receives illegal migrants from the Sudanese-Libyan border and transports them to Kufra, Sabha, Ajdabiya, or Sirte. He told the investigation team in Kufra that Sudanese RSF militias collaborate with Libyan border guards under Haftar’s command, demanding $1,500 from each migrant for the RSF and another $1,500 for Haftar’s militia. After arriving in Libya, migrants pay an additional $3,000 to continue their journey to Europe.
  Migrants travel from Khartoum to Dongola, northern Sudan, then to Jebel Al-Awainat, northwestern Sudan, to cross the Sudanese-Libyan border and reach Kufra. Those from Darfur and other parts of the Horn of Africa travel from El Fasher to Mellit and Malha in North Darfur, then northward to the Libyan border and Kufra, as narrated by three migrants, including Sar Habib. He paid $1,500 to RSF militants in March 2022 to facilitate his migration to Libya, rejecting forced recruitment.
  RSF control over the Sudanese-Libyan border began three years after its official recognition in 2013. In mid-2016, RSF deployed 400 vehicles to monitor the border, claiming to have intercepted over 1,500 migrants and traffickers in the second half of that year, coinciding with a €40 million EU grant to Sudan to curb illegal migration from the Horn of Africa to Europe, according to the report “The Tebu Problem: State Presence and Absence in the Chad-Sudan-Libya Triangle.”
  Sudanese migrant Hassan Boutalib hired a trafficker with RSF connections to reach Libya. After paying the agreed amount, he was transported with others from North Kordofan to Jebel Al-Awainat on the Sudanese-Libyan border, then to Kufra’s administrative center in Al-Jawf with 230 migrants, mostly from Sudan, Eritrea, and South Sudan. He recounted that anyone who fell from the overcrowded vehicle was left behind. “We had little water and food throughout the journey,” he added.
  Human traffickers pay tolls to armed groups on both sides of the border. Al-Zwai confirmed that RSF factions charge $100 per migrant, while Libyan militias charge $50.
  Human trafficking has become a lucrative industry for armed groups, generating annual revenues of $89 million to $236 million in Libya alone, according to a 2021 UN Institute for Crime and Justice Research paper titled “Illicit Financial Flows and Asset Recovery in Libya.” The paper states that human trafficking is closely linked to militias hindering peaceful political transitions and state consolidation, using profits to purchase weapons.
  A senior officer in the Subul al-Salam Battalion in Kufra, speaking anonymously, acknowledged general cooperation between Haftar’s militia and the RSF regarding illegal migration. He told the investigation team on February 15, 2024, that they receive migrants from the RSF and facilitate their passage to Europe via the eastern region or Sorman and Zawiya on the Mediterranean coast west of Tripoli, charging each migrant $3,000, half of which goes to Kufra border guards.
  Enslavement Despite Payment
  Migrants end up being exploited by traffickers for two to three years, despite paying for passage across the Mediterranean. Boutalib was detained in Ajdabiya in October 2022, held in a food storage until December. “We slept on the floor without blankets, and food was scarce,” he recalled.
  Unable to pay for his release, Boutalib was forced to work on a farm in Ajdabiya for six months before escaping to Tripoli in June 2023. He now works as a street vendor but remains fearful without official documents.
  Despite traffickers’ promises that payment would ensure migration to Italy or Greece, migrants find themselves extorted by Haftar’s militia, who demand additional money or force them into unpaid labor, as experienced by Sar Habib. “I paid $4,000, including $1,500 to the RSF and $2,500 to Libyan militias in Kufra. After moving to Benghazi in April 2023, I was detained in a migrant shelter. Attempting to cross to Greece, we were captured by coastguards off Benghazi, dashing my dreams and losing my money,” he lamented.
  Documented by Al-Hakika
  After Bringing in Libyan Mercenaries to Their Ranks to Seize It, the RSF Militias Impose a Siege on El Fasher, Burn Villages, and Prevent Humanitarian Aid
  May 13, 2024
  1
  According to the Washington Post, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have called in fighters from neighboring Libya and allied Arab militias to besiege El Fasher, promising them the spoils of war upon seizing the city.
  Dozens of people have been killed in the ongoing fighting in El Fasher, Sudan, as reported by a civil society group. This has raised concerns for over 2.5 million civilians trapped there as paramilitary forces encircle the city, the last in the region outside their control.
  A member of the city’s emergency response team wrote to the Washington Post: “Today was one of the hardest days we’ve ever witnessed… the attack came from three directions.” He added that “the fighting was within populated areas, using all types of weapons.”
  He reported that at least 38 civilians were killed, 189 others were injured, and “many homes” were destroyed. “The hospital is calling for blood donations, stating that the number of wounded exceeds its capacity.”
  The story continues below the advertisement
  The man spoke on condition of anonymity because the RSF has previously targeted civil activists when seizing territory.
  It remains unclear whether the fighting, which included airstrikes, rockets, and machine guns in civilian neighborhoods, represents a full-scale attack on the city or a prelude to a larger assault. Any RSF attempt to seize the city is likely to result in a bloodbath.
  The story continues below the advertisement
  Many residents fear their ethnic background could make them targets if the RSF takes over El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, but they say there’s no place left to flee, and they are determined to stand their ground.
  On Sunday, Abdu Musa Hassan, the medical director of South El Fasher Hospital, said he was too busy to count the dead. However, he added that the hospital was already overcrowded, with patients being treated on the ground, in tents, or on balconies. He noted that medical supplies had been cut off after the RSF took control of Mellit, which connects El Fasher to the rest of the state.
  The story continues below the advertisement
  Only a few food supplies have reached the city since the RSF took control of the main road; residents reported that fuel and water prices have also skyrocketed.
  An RSF officer stationed in Omdurman, near the capital Khartoum, told the Washington Post that many of his fighters had been called to El Fasher. He added that tribal militias allied with the RSF were also summoned and promised loot if they captured the city, adding that he had asked his family to leave the city.
  A soldier from former rebel movements told the newspaper that more fighters were being called from neighboring Libya, where many work as mercenaries, to reinforce their military positions. The fighters were gathering in several areas before heading to El Fasher.
  2
  RSF Militias Loot Goods from El Fasher Traders
  Sudan News Follow-up
  The RSF siege on El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur State, has caused a scarcity and price increase of goods and fuel as supplies start to run out in the city’s markets, which house 800,000 residents.
  According to Darfur24, several traders reported that stocks of sugar, flour, lentils, rice, and pasta were more than 60% depleted in warehouses, with difficulties in getting supplies to the city due to RSF confiscations.
  Musa Mohammed Ibrahim, a wholesale trader in the livestock market, told Darfur24 that RSF forces confiscated goods worth over 5 million pounds while they were being transported from Mellit last week without giving any reasons.
  3
  RSF Prevents Humanitarian Aid from Reaching El Fasher
  Toby Harward, the Deputy Coordinator for Humanitarian Affairs of the United Nations in Sudan, said that relief trucks were stuck on roads from Port Sudan and the Tina crossing, unable to proceed due to aggressive rhetoric.
  Sudanese authorities agreed to use the Tina crossing, linking Chad to North Darfur, to bring aid to the rest of the region, among other routes, all under the control of the army and allied groups.
  4
  US Report: Intentional Burning of Nine Villages West of El Fasher by RSF and Allied Militias
  The Humanitarian Research Laboratory at Yale University’s School of Public Health confirmed that at least nine villages west of El Fasher were destroyed by deliberate fires between March 31 and April 15.
  The laboratory’s report on Tuesday relied on remote sensing data and satellite images, corroborated with open-source information, confirming multiple media reports that these villages were attacked by RSF forces during this period.
  On Sunday, Radio Dabanga published reports and interviews with victims of the RSF attacks on villages west of El Fasher, resulting in several deaths, injuries, and the partial or total burning of several villages.
  The report confirmed Radio Dabanga and other news sites and social media networks by matching information with remote sensing data to verify deliberate burn attacks in the following villages: Barka, Jangonat, Turknia, Tikilat, Jiranga, Sarfaya, Umm Ashush, Maqrin, and another unidentified village about 9 km north of Tikilat.
  The RSF controls the main roads and intersections around El Fasher, likely preventing civilians from fleeing. In December 2023, the Biden administration issued an “atrocities report” concluding that the RSF and its allied forces committed crimes against humanity, including ethnic cleansing.
  Documented by Al-Hakika
  Local Investigations, Global Reports, Statistics, and Matching Testimonies Reveal RSF Involvement in Sexual Slavery, Violence, and Kidnapping and Detention of Women and Girls
  An investigation by Al-Araby Al-Jadeed revealed that RSF members are involved in trafficking girls kidnapped from several conflict zones, where they are subjected to sexual slavery in multiple locations, the most dangerous being “Khor Jahannam” in Darfur, according to consistent testimonies.
• Sudanese tea seller Mahasen Mahdi escaped from a house where RSF members detained her in Jabra neighborhood, south of Khartoum, after abducting her from her workplace in the Salama market. The abductor, whose name she learned and who was killed in the Battle of the Armored Corps in Al-Shajara neighborhood, south of the capital, had been watching her.
  Escaping was not easy, as RSF groups frequently visited the house. During a failed escape attempt, the guard told her that although her abductor was dead, she would remain subject to the desires of other commanders.
  Mahdi managed to escape to Wad Madani in central Sudan but carried a child resulting from rape. She told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, “I was one of those who couldn’t leave Khartoum when the war broke out on April 15 due to lack of money and my father’s insistence on staying. I was kidnapped, detained, raped, and enslaved, and they threatened to kill my father and forced my younger brother to serve them.”
  Mahdi is one of “29” sexual slavery cases documented by the Anti-Violence Against Women Unit of the Ministry of Social Development in RSF-controlled areas in Khartoum and Nyala, the capital of South Darfur State, from the start of the war until the end of January 2024, according to the unit’s director, Salima Ishaq.
  Sexual Slavery:
  The Anti-Violence Against Women Unit documented RSF members kidnapping girls for sexual slavery, according to Ishaq. Reports received by the unit indicated that some girls were kidnapped in Sudan but were confirmed to have been taken out of the country. Eyewitnesses reported seeing vehicles transporting bound girls outside Khartoum, and similar incidents were reported in Darfur, where witnesses refrained from intervening to protect their lives.
  Kidnapping methods varied, with some girls taken from public streets and others from their homes, but many remain missing and are believed to be held in RSF areas. Ishaq confirmed receiving “45” reports of missing girls, especially in the Halfaia neighborhood of Khartoum.
  “29” cases of sexual slavery were documented by the Anti-Violence Against Women Unit.
  This aligns with a report titled “Sexual Slavery in Khor Jehenna” by the African Center for Justice and Peace Studies in Khartoum, which detailed kidnappings, forced disappearances, torture, rape, cruel and degrading treatment, and forced prostitution from May 2023 onwards. Witnesses reported seeing captors with girls in Shengal Tobay village, south of El Fasher, and in the village of Al-Malam in South Darfur, exhibiting them for forced prostitution in poor condition.
  The targeting of women workers in public places, detaining them, and subjecting them to sexual slavery in RSF-controlled areas is extensively documented. Reports from civilians in Koim village, adjacent to the western gate of El Fasher, noted seeing over 70 Toyota vehicles driven by RSF members, loaded with boxes and other items, with 10 of them carrying girls in chains. This phenomenon was first observed in May 2023 and has been growing.
  This practice is part of a series of severe sexual violations documented by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Sudan. The UN received over 50 credible reports of sexual violence, including individual and gang rapes, and attempted rapes between April 15 and November 2, 2023, affecting 105 victims, including 86 women, one man, and 18 children. According to a written response to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, reports also mentioned the abduction of women and girls and their detention in slave-like conditions in RSF-controlled areas. In a press release issued on November 3, the UN stated, “Reliable information from survivors, witnesses, and other sources indicates that more than 20 women and girls have been kidnapped, but the number may be higher. Some sources reported seeing women and girls chained inside small trucks and vehicles.”
  Enslavement of Entire Families
  Entire families have been subjected to enslavement, according to lawyer Ibrahim Mohieddin, a member of the Sudanese Group for the Victims of Enforced Disappearances (a human rights initiative). One documented case involved a family in Khartoum Bahri, whose home was raided by RSF elements who detained them, forced them to serve them, and raped the girls. The survivors received treatment in Wad Madani in central Sudan.
  Maria Hassan was kidnapped from Al-Daroushab suburb north of Khartoum Bahri near Souq Al-Arab in mid-July last year. She was hit on the head and lost consciousness, awakening in a house with many women and girls in Al-Halfaya neighborhood.
  Hassan spent a month and a half in that house with 19 other girls, discovering that the kidnappers were RSF members. They forced the girls to serve them, cook, and some were used as nurses for the injured. Hassan told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, “We endured the worst treatment, often without access to water.” She continued, “I tried to escape with another girl, but the RSF members caught us, beat us, and deprived us of food for three days, tightening surveillance.” The situation remained dire until many elements joined military operations, looting and stealing, allowing her to escape.
  Markets for Selling Girls
  RSF members who kidnap girls either exchange them among themselves, sell them, or demand ransom from their families. Some families managed to reclaim their daughters by paying significant amounts of money, as documented by the Anti-Violence Against Women Unit.
  Members of the RSF sell abducted girls in markets or demand ransom from their families.
  Abdul Ghaffar Dawood, a member of the Darfur Bar Association (a Sudanese lawyers’ organization founded in 1995, awarded the National Endowment for Democracy award in 2020 for supporting marginalized people in defending their rights and providing legal assistance to vulnerable activists before and during the protests in Sudan), revealed that association workers met two survivors in Al-Geneina, west of Sudan, where there is a market for girls abducted from Khartoum and Darfur, located specifically northwest of Ardmeta in Al-Geneina. Dawood explained that girls are sold in various locations outside cities in mobile markets operated by RSF members. “They prefer to buy light-skinned girls for commanders, while dark-skinned girls face more sexual abuse and are exchanged among soldiers as a means to incentivize militia members.”
  Additionally, ten cases involving women, including four beverage and food sellers, who were detained, sexually exploited, and forced into prostitution by their abductors on June 25, 2023, in Al-Dhaman Hotel in Al-Ubayyid, central North Kordofan State, and Al-Ahd Al-Jadeed Building, owned by the Coptic Church, and the stock exchange in Nyala, South Darfur State. These crimes were committed by individuals wearing RSF uniforms, according to the Sexual Slavery in Khor Jahannam report.
  Perishing in “Khor Jahannam”
  Sudanese woman Umm Al-Naeem, living in the village of Damra Sharfa, 60 kilometers southwest of El Fasher, North Darfur, sorrowfully recounted how her two sons, serving in the RSF, abducted eight girls during the Khartoum battles in May 2023. They are currently used as sex workers in several villages, including Qalab, Khor Mali, and Sharfa west of El Fasher. The northern part of the city has become a point for abducting girls and transporting them to various locations, according to the Sexual Slavery in Khor Jahannam report.
  Khor Jahannam village has witnessed a surge in forced prostitution cases, becoming a market for sexual slavery. A survivor whose story is documented in the report stated that she and others were kidnapped from Khartoum on May 17, subjected to multiple rapes in Kebkabiya, North Darfur, before being displayed in Khor Jahannam’s sex markets.
  Reliable Information on the Abduction of 160 Women by the RSF
  April 24, 2024
  The United Nations reported that RSF forces and their allied militias abducted over 160 women and girls, held in near-slavery conditions over the past year.
  UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres presented his 15th annual report on conflict-related violence to the UN Security Council, covering the period from January to December 2023.
  The report stated, “The United Nations received reliable information on the abduction of over 160 women and girls held in near-slavery conditions, including reports of women and girls being raped and detained in slave-like conditions.”
  The UN noted, “There are reports that women and girls kidnapped in Khartoum State were taken to other areas, especially Darfur, chained in the back of trucks. RSF forces or allied militias were involved in nearly all cases.”
  The possibility of coercion into prostitution or forced marriage was not ruled out, while in other cases, families paid large ransoms for the return of their members.
  Human rights organizations, including the Horn of Africa Women’s Network (Sihanet), spoke about markets for selling kidnapped women from Khartoum in Darfur.
  Documented by The Eye of Al Hakika:
  Yale University Human Rights Center and Human Rights Watch Reveal Atrocities and Genocides Committed by RSF Against the Masalit Ethnic Group, Executions of Masalit, Fur, and Zaghawa Boys, and Rapes of Girls in El Fasher
  Follow-ups by Al-Hakika
  May 1, 2024
  A report by Yale University’s Human Rights Center warned that the multi-directional siege imposed by the RSF around El Fasher would have severe consequences on civilians, given the indiscriminate clashes between the Sudanese army and RSF forces, with no adequate protection for civilians.
  The report, issued in May, stated: “The RSF often infiltrates neighborhoods in waves, committing widespread atrocities, including mass executions of Masalit, Fur, and Zaghawa men and boys, and gender-based violence against women and girls, including sexual exploitation and rape in displaced persons shelters.”
  The Yale Human Rights Center estimated the potential for three forms of mass civilian casualties in El Fasher: deaths related to deprivation due to lack of essential needs – food, water, medicine, civilian deaths from armed clashes, and deaths from systematic and mass atrocities.
  Attacks in El Fasher are occurring amidst a deteriorating humanitarian situation, with reports indicating that internally displaced persons camps, suffering from resource shortages, struggle to accommodate the influx of forcibly displaced individuals, including over 50,000 people displaced from communities razed by RSF forces west of El Fasher.
  The Human Rights Center also reported sexual and gender-based violence, including sexual exploitation, assault, and rape in displaced persons shelters. The lack of adequate care for survivors contributed to suicides.
  The attacks west of El Fasher and near Mellit likely resulted in more civilian casualties. Although Yale’s observatory could not currently determine the status of displaced persons after RSF took control of Mellit and the northern and eastern routes leading to El Fasher, reports indicated that forces from Nyala, Zalingei, Al-Da’ain, and other Darfur areas were moving towards El Fasher, preparing for an attack on the city from at least three fronts.
  Human Rights Watch Report: The Masalit Will Not Return Home Due to RSF and Allied Militias
  RSF attacks and allied militias in Al-Geneina, the capital of West Darfur State in Sudan, killed thousands and left hundreds of thousands of refugees. Severe violations targeting the Masalit ethnic group and other non-Arab groups, with the intent of permanently driving them from the region, constitute ethnic cleansing.
  The UN and African Union must urgently impose an arms embargo on Sudan, sanction those responsible for severe crimes, and deploy a mission to protect civilians.
  Nairobi, May 9, 2024 – Human Rights Watch stated in a report that RSF attacks and allied militias in Al-Geneina, the capital of West Darfur State in Sudan, killed thousands and left hundreds of thousands of refugees from April to November 2023. Widespread crimes against humanity and war crimes were committed in the context of an ethnic cleansing campaign against the Masalit ethnic group and other non-Arab residents in Al-Geneina and surrounding areas.
  (Nairobi, 9 May 2024) – Human Rights Watch stated in a report released today those attacks by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied militias in Geneina, the capital of West Darfur State, Sudan, have killed at least thousands and displaced hundreds of thousands of refugees from April to November 2023. Widespread crimes against humanity and war crimes were committed in a campaign of ethnic cleansing against the Masalit ethnicity and other non-Arab populations in and around Geneina.
  The 218-page report, titled “Masalit Will Not Return Home: Ethnic Cleansing and Crimes Against Humanity in Geneina, West Darfur, Sudan,” documents how the RSF, an independent military force fighting the Sudanese army, and its allied Arab militias, including the “Third Front – Tamazuj,” targeted neighborhoods with a majority Masalit population in continuous attacks between April and June, escalating again in early November. The attackers committed other severe abuses such as torture, rape, and looting.
  More than half a million refugees have fled West Darfur to Chad since April 2023. As of late October 2023, 75% of them were from Geneina.
  Sudan: Ethnic Cleansing in West Darfur
  The targeting of the Masalit and other non-Arab groups with severe abuses, with the apparent goal of driving them permanently from the area, constitutes ethnic cleansing. The context of the large-scale killings also raises the possibility that the RSF and its allies intended to partially or completely destroy the Masalit in West Darfur, suggesting that genocide may have occurred or is occurring.
  Between June 2023 and April 2024, Human Rights Watch interviewed more than 220 people in Chad, Uganda, Kenya, and South Sudan, as well as remotely. Researchers reviewed and analyzed over 120 photos and videos of the events, satellite images, and documents shared by humanitarian organizations to support the accounts of severe abuses.
  Violence in Geneina began nine days after fighting broke out in Khartoum, Sudan’s capital, between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF. On the morning of 24 April, the RSF clashed with a Sudanese military convoy passing through Geneina. The RSF and allied groups then attacked neighborhoods with a majority Masalit population and clashed with Masalit-majority armed groups defending their areas. In the following weeks, even after Masalit armed groups lost control of their neighborhoods, the RSF and allied militias systematically targeted unarmed civilians.
  Violence peaked in a large massacre on 15 June, when the RSF and its allies fired on a multi-kilometer-long convoy of civilians desperately trying to flee, accompanied by Masalit fighters. The RSF and militias pursued, captured, and shot men, women, and children running through the streets or attempting to swim across the raging Kaja River, where many drowned. Even the elderly and injured were not spared.
  A 17-year-old boy described the killing of 12 children and five adults from several families: “Two RSF forces took the children from their families, and when the families started screaming, the RSF shot them, killing them. Then they gathered the children and shot them. They threw their bodies into the river, along with their belongings.”
  On that day and in the following days, attacks continued on tens of thousands of civilians trying to cross into Chad, leaving the countryside littered with bodies. Videos from that time show crowds of civilians fleeing for their lives on the road connecting Geneina to Chad.
  Human Rights Watch also documented the killing of Arab residents and the looting of Arab neighborhoods by Masalit forces, as well as the Sudanese Armed Forces’ use of explosive weapons in populated areas, causing unnecessary harm to civilians and civilian objects.
  The RSF and allied militias escalated their abuses again in November, targeting Masalit residents who had taken refuge in the Ardemata area of Geneina, arresting Masalit men and boys, and killing at least 1,000 people, according to the United Nations.
  During these abuses, women and girls were raped and subjected to other forms of sexual violence, and detainees were tortured and otherwise mistreated. The attackers systematically destroyed vital civilian infrastructure, targeting neighborhoods and sites, including schools, in displaced communities predominantly composed of the Masalit. They looted extensively, burned, bombed, and demolished neighborhoods after emptying them of their residents.
  Human Rights Watch said these acts were committed as part of a widespread and systematic attack directed against the Masalit and other non-Arab civilians in majority-Masalit neighborhoods, thus constituting crimes against humanity, including murder, torture, persecution, and forcible transfer of the civilian population.
  The possibility that genocide has occurred or is occurring in Darfur requires urgent action from all governments and international institutions to protect civilians. An investigation must be ensured to determine whether the facts show a specific intent by RSF leadership and allies to partially or completely destroy the Masalit and other non-Arab ethnic groups in West Darfur, indicating the commission of genocide. If so, measures must be taken to prevent further crimes and ensure accountability for those planning and committing them.
  Documented by Al Hakika
  Local and international official reports reveal recent statistics on cases of rape by the RSF militia, and the Sudanese Sovereignty Council directs the activation of laws against violence towards women and their protection.
  1
  The Minister of Social Development told the newspaper Al-Sudani that 11 women in Khartoum abandoned the children they conceived as a result of rape by militia members.
  Port Sudan: Al-Sudani
  The Minister of Social Development in Khartoum State, Sadiq Ferini, revealed that 11 women abandoned the children they conceived as a result of rape by members of the RSF militia.
  Ferini stated in a statement to Al-Sudani: “Four children have been received in Khartoum, and seven more will be received. The ministry is making efforts to integrate them into alternative families.”
  He added, “Some mothers who were raped in conflict zones are contemplating abandoning their children voluntarily before birth.”
  2
  Minister of Health: Recording More Than 400 Documented Cases of Rape in Areas Controlled by the Rapid Support Forces
  The Federal Minister of Health, Dr. Haitham Mohamed Ibrahim, revealed that more than 400 documented cases of rape have been recorded for women subjected to sexual assault in areas controlled by the Rapid Support Forces. The victims were treated according to the sexual assault treatment protocol to prevent pregnancy.
  He also disclosed that the monthly cost of purchasing medicines is fifty million dollars, noting that the current drug availability is between 60%-70%, an increase from the initial months of the war when it did not exceed 20%. However, there are difficulties in sending medicines to areas controlled by the Rapid Support Forces.
  In a press conference in Port Sudan in May 2024, following a meeting with United Nations humanitarian organizations, Acting Federal Minister of Health Dr. Haitham Mohamed Ibrahim stated that the total support provided by UN organizations for medical and health aid to Sudan does not exceed 20% of the total need. The Ministry of Finance is providing the necessary funds for purchasing medicines, and the government is committed to delivering medical and health aid to all Sudanese without discrimination.
  He mentioned that his ministry is using all possible means, including civil society, local administrations, and organizations, to deliver this aid to all citizens. He highlighted the role of the Ministry of Health in ensuring the delivery of medical and health aid.
  3
  “SIHA” Documents 14 Cases of Pregnancy Resulting from Gang Rapes
  Port Sudan, 23 April 2024 – Women in The Horn of Africa “SIHA” announced that it has documented 14 cases of pregnancy resulting from gang rapes, considering this number to be small given the difficulties in communication and obtaining information. The network also reported cases of suicide among rape victims.
  The Rapid Support Forces are accused of committing serious violations against citizens in the areas they occupy in Khartoum, Al Jazira, Darfur, and Kordofan, including killing, looting, and rape.
  The network’s recent report, which was shared with Sudan Tribune, stated that rape and gang rape have been characteristic features of the year-long war in Sudan. The violations have expanded from Khartoum and West and South Darfur to include villages in Al Jazira region and areas in North and East Sennar, South Kordofan, and North Darfur.
  The report included accounts from rape victims showing signs of pregnancy, detailing their struggles with the situation, ranging from insisting on ending the pregnancy to facing difficulties in terminating it after discovering it late.
  The report indicated that forced and unwanted pregnancies are a predictable outcome of the systematic rape occurring in Sudan over the past year.
  It added, “We have documented and recorded 244 cases of rape and gang rape, and we have so far followed up on 14 cases of unwanted pregnancies resulting from gang rapes. This number is, in our estimation, a small fraction of the actual figures, given the difficulties in obtaining information due to disrupted communication networks, dangerous travel routes, and the severe deterioration of security conditions.”
  A statement to the Security Council revealed 3,688 cases of sexual violence by the Rapid Support Forces militia in several Sudanese states since the beginning of the war.
  4
  Deputy Chairman of the Sovereignty Council Meets Director General of the Unit for Combating Violence Against Women
  Port Sudan, 7 May 2024
  Deputy Chairman of the Transitional Sovereignty Council, Commander Malik Agar Ayre, emphasized the importance of activating all laws, legislations, and international agreements related to combating violence against women and protecting them, especially in displacement areas and refugee camps. He stressed the need to provide necessary social and psychological support to enhance the security and protection of women.
  During his meeting at his office with Dr. Salima Ishaq Al-Khalifa Sharif, Director General of the Unit for Combating Violence Against Women, he underscored the need to eradicate all forms of violence, change perceptions and behaviors, and raise awareness within communities.
  Agar pointed out the importance of activating the role of organizations and institutions related to combating violence against women and preserving their rights, protecting them from random killings, torture, sexual violence, and forced marriage. He emphasized the need to maintain women’s participation in the workforce and support working and productive women across all regions of Sudan.
  In a press statement following the meeting, Dr. Salima Ishaq highlighted the responsibilities and role of the Unit for Combating Violence Against Women in protecting woman and girls in active conflict zones and displacement areas.
  She emphasized the importance of integrating roles and coordinating between official and popular entities to protect women and girls from direct violations in conflict and displacement areas, where they are vulnerable to exploitation while receiving services.
  Documented by Al Hakika
  Hundreds of Deaths in Massacres in Al Jazira State… Rapid Support Forces’ Attacks Empty Villages of Their Residents
  May 2024
  Al-Quds Al-Arabi / Reports
  As the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continue their attacks on villages in Al Jazira State, central Sudan, since last December, the Resistance Committees announced the killing of five civilians in the villages of “Meryoud” and “Um Duwana”. They reported that elements of the forces led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo “Hemedti” attacked the village of Meryoud, targeting it for looting and theft, resulting in the deaths of three civilians and injuries to others.
  They also indicated that the village of “Um Duwana” has been subjected to a series of attacks since mid-February, during which the RSF committed various abuses against unarmed civilians, including looting, theft, assault, and threats with weapons to seize residents’ properties. The latest attack was described as more brutal than previous ones, leading to the deaths of two young men from the village.
  The village of Tanoub in the rural area of Tabet has been continually raided by RSF groups aiming to loot and steal what remains of the villagers’ possessions, causing the entire population to flee the village.
  Since the outbreak of the war between the Sudanese army and the RSF in mid-April last year, Al Jazira State and its capital, Wad Madani, have become a safe haven for millions of displaced people fleeing the ongoing conflict in the capital, Khartoum, and other cities.
  The RSF took control of Wad Madani on 19 December last year after three days of fighting with the army. Meanwhile, the RSF is tightening its siege on El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur State, where extensive military mobilization is taking place.
  At Least 13 Killed as Militia Forces Most Residents to Flee Al-Harga Village, East of Wad Madani, Al Jazira State
  12 May 2024
  In early May 2024, at least 13 people were killed in a retaliatory attack by the RSF on Al-Harga village in Al Jazira State, central Sudan.
  In February, the RSF intensified its attacks on scattered villages in Al Jazira, which it has controlled since last December. These forces have committed horrific violations, including killings, looting, and enforced disappearances.
  The RSF exploited the communication and internet blackout in most areas of Al Jazira, allowing them to continue their violations and crimes.
  A statement from the Wad Madani Resistance Committees said, “Continuing the brutal violations by the RSF against the citizens of Al Jazira, a new massacre was committed in Al-Harga village, east of Wad Madani, with 13 martyrs and numerous injuries reported on the first day alone, with casualties taken to Gedaref Hospital.”
  Eyewitnesses reported that the RSF attacked Al-Hurga village east of Madani with over ten military vehicles and motorcycles, indiscriminately shooting anyone in their path.
  They explained that these forces stormed homes, violated sanctities by assaulting women, children, and the elderly, and looted cars, cash, gold, and agricultural produce.
  They mentioned that most of the residents of Al-Hurga were forced to flee their homes after some were turned into military barracks and artillery launch pads. Thousands have been displaced to Gedaref and Sennar states, facing extremely complex humanitarian conditions.
  Local reports indicated that the death toll in the Al-Harga massacre exceeded 140, listing the names and images of the first day’s victims, including:

1. Muqbil Abdulazim
2. Isa Yousif Ahmed
3. Yousif Minallah
4. Karb Mohamed
5. Mahjoub Al-Amin Yaseen
6. Musab Mohamed
7. Al-Nour Abdullah
8. Yousif Ali Al-Tayeb
9. Ahmed Yousif Ali Al-Tayeb
10. Mohamed Abdulaziz
11. Al-Siddiq Ali Dafallah
12. Al-Maqboul Hasab Al-Rasoul

Documented by Al Hakika
Rapid Support Forces Arrest 17 Volunteers in Bahri City, a Christian Cleric in Omdurman, and 86 Youths in North Kordofan, Violating International Laws and Norms

1. Rapid Support Forces Kidnap 17 Volunteers in Shambat Suburb
   10 May 2024
   The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) kidnapped 17 volunteers in the Shambat suburb of Khartoum Bahri. The RSF has intensified its campaigns targeting volunteers active in providing services to citizens, arresting many across different neighborhoods of the capital, with some even dying under torture.
   A statement from the Shambat Emergency Room received by “Sudan Tribune” stated, “Continuing the RSF’s brutal violations against citizens, they arrested 17 volunteers from Tekiyeh Square 15 in Shambat Al-Aradi on charges of espionage with the army.”
   The statement clarified that the arrested volunteers had no connection to the army but were serving their community and mitigating the war’s effects. The RSF was held responsible for the safety of the detainees and urged their immediate release.
2. RSF Arrests Christian Cleric and Demands Ransom for His Release
   Watn Media Follow-ups – Tuesday, 16 April 2024
   The RSF, described as a terrorist militia, arrested a Christian cleric from Omdurman while he was trying to leave the area for the Nile River State in northern Sudan, demanding a hefty ransom from his family for his release.
   Since the war between the army and the RSF began on 15 April 2023, numerous Christians have suffered extensive violations at the hands of the RSF.
   On 14 May, armed members of the RSF attacked the “St. George” Church in Khartoum, one of the oldest Coptic churches, threatening the staff to reveal the location of money and gold. They also shot three people and beat the bishop’s assistant with sticks, causing fractures.
   Metwally Ibrahim Kempeel, a member of the advisory board of the Sudanese Church of Christ, said, “The RSF arrested the General Secretary of the Sudanese Church of Christ, Pastor Abbas Anter Abu Hedayah, from Omdurman while he was traveling to Shendi in the Nile River State to attend the church’s annual council meeting.”
   He explained that the RSF transferred the pastor to Soba Prison in eastern Khartoum, requiring his family to pay two million pounds for his release.
   Kempeel condemned the aggressive actions of arresting church leaders, violating places of worship, harassing clergy, and obstructing their movements, holding the RSF responsible for the safety of all detainees.
   He called on human rights organizations to intervene for the release of all civilian detainees.
   On 12 January, individuals believed to be associated with the RSF set fire to the main headquarters of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Wad Madani, Al Jazira State, causing severe damage to the building.
   The fire destroyed official documents, with church leaders holding the RSF morally and legally responsible for the incident due to their control over the city.
   The incident provoked angry reactions from international and local parties, warning against spreading religious hatred and inciting discord among communities.
3. RSF Kidnaps 86 Youths in Um Qurefa, North Kordofan
   The General Union of Dar Hamed announced that the RSF kidnapped 86 youths from Um Qurefa and surrounding areas in Kordofan, forcibly relocating them to Omdurman, claiming they were mobilizing to join the armed forces.
   A statement from the union described these claims as mere fabrications intended to coerce the Dar Hamed tribe into cooperation, which has failed miserably.
   The statement declared that the time had come for the tribe to mobilize and assert its authority and prevent such violations from recurring.
   The Dar Hamed tribe has repeatedly distanced itself from the war’s agenda, maintaining its peaceful nature. However, the RSF has committed heinous crimes against prominent tribe members, including the kidnapping of 108 youths traveling to gold mining areas months ago and their forced relocation to RSF-controlled areas in Omdurman.
4. RSF Arrests Sudan TV Cameraman Abdel Aziz Arja
   In May 2024, RSF intelligence forces raided the shop of Sudan TV cameraman Abdel Aziz Mahmoud Arja in eastern Zalengei market, Central Darfur State, and took him to their headquarters, known as “Al-Fawj.”
   Journalists and media personnel contacted RSF officials following Arja’s arrest to inquire about the reasons and push for his release, but the RSF intelligence in Zalengei refused to provide any explanations.
   RSF intelligence also barred visits to the detainee, citing ongoing investigations.

Documented by Al Hakika
RSF Takes Children Hostage, Demands Ransom for Their Release
The Resistance Committees in Al-Hasaheisa reported that the RSF attacked Um Malihah village in Al Jazira State with 20 armed vehicles.
In the latest field update in May 2024, the committees stated that the RSF terrorized the village’s residents, including women, and completely looted the village.
According to the Al-Hasaheisa Resistance Committees, the attacking forces threatened to return, forcing most villagers to flee. The RSF committed all types of violations against the residents, including theft, looting, torture, and whipping of youths, women, and the elderly, and they stole agricultural crops.
They also took several children hostage, demanding ransom from their families for their release, leading most villagers to leave for safety.

Documented by Al Hakika
Thousands of Sudanese Leave Camps in Ethiopia Protesting Poor Services and Weak Aid; Women’s Official in Goor Refugee Camp Reports Miscarriages Among Women Raped by RSF
May 2024
Activists on social media posted shocking videos of large numbers of Sudanese refugees walking from Olala camp in the Amhara region to the town of Gondar near the Sudanese border, in extremely complex humanitarian conditions.
Thousands of Sudanese refugees decided to leave several camps in Ethiopia in protest of insecurity, severe shortages of food and medicine, and lack of security.
In “Kumor” camp in Metema, Ethiopia, Sudanese refugees decided to stage a sit-in in front of the UNHCR office, demanding food, water, and security after several armed robbery incidents.
The women’s and children’s official in the “Goor” refugee camp in Juba, South Sudan, reported 50 miscarriages in the camp over the past year and many girls who were raped by the RSF.
The Humanitarian Affairs Commission in Juba and the Kebolan Association visited Goor camp in southwestern Juba to assess the conditions of the Sudanese refugees, which houses more than 7,000 refugees, including 4,000 women.
Kebolan is a newly established charity focused on issues affecting Sudanese refugees in camps, working to improve their conditions and meet their needs. It began its activities with a meeting with the Humanitarian Affairs Commission in Juba.

Documented by Al Hakika:
RSF Loots Ventilators from ICU, Orthopedic Equipment from Wad Madani Hospital, Al Jazira State, Kills Medical Staff, Sudanese Ministry of Health Expresses Concerns Over $20 Million Worth of Medicines
The Sudanese Doctors Preliminary Committee described the health situation in Al Jazira State as catastrophic following the shutdown of several hospitals in Wad Madani after the RSF took control.
The committee stated in a report that the RSF looted ventilators from the ICU and orthopedic surgical equipment, highlighting a severe shortage in medical supplies.
Minister of Health, Haitham Mohamed Ibrahim, expressed concerns about the fate of $20 million worth of medicines and medical supplies stored in Al Jazira State after the RSF took control.
In an exclusive interview with the Arab World News Agency on 26 April 2024, the minister said the main stockpile of medicines for the country was in Al Jazira State due to its strategic location for distribution across Sudan.
He added, “The entire reserve was in Al Jazira State, a reserve of essential medicines sufficient for two to six months, distributed from there.”
The minister revealed that the value of these medicines is estimated at $20 million.
He also mentioned a sharp decline in incoming health aid, adding, “We fear epidemic outbreaks due to the high density of displaced people in Port Sudan.”
The Resistance Committees in Wad Madani reported that the RSF stormed the home of Osman Qasem Allah in Barakat, Al Jazira State, at night, demanding money and savings. He refused and went to report to their base but was shot dead.
Osman had volunteered as a medical assistant to run a free medical center in the area during the war.

Documented by Al Hakika
RSF Blocks Humanitarian Aid to El Fasher; SPLM Accuses It of Targeting Nuba People; Darfur Governor Warns RSF Against Attacking Trucks Heading to South Darfur
1
Deputy UN Coordinator for Humanitarian Affairs in Sudan, Toby Harward, stated that relief trucks are stuck on the roads from Port Sudan and the Al-Tina crossing, unable to proceed due to aggressive rhetoric
The Sudanese authorities approved the use of the Al-Tina crossing linking Chad to North Darfur State for bringing aid into the rest of the region, along with other routes, all controlled by the army and its allied groups.
On the other hand, the RSF refused to allow aid from Port Sudan in eastern Sudan through the town of Al-Dabba in northern Sudan to North Darfur State, claiming there was a plan to transport weapons to the latter.
Human rights activists from Jebel Al-Dair in North Kordofan accused the RSF of blocking roads leading to the area, hindering the delivery of supplies to citizens after taking control of several villages there.
An activist told Radio Dabanga that the RSF disrupted communication networks and prevented detainees from contacting their families. He added that the RSF was holding a large number of residents from Jebel Al-Dair.
The activists called on international human rights and humanitarian organizations to urgently intervene and provide protection and assistance to the detainees.
In a speech to the SPLA General Staff in Kauda, SPLM leader Abdulaziz al-Hilu accused the RSF of waging an ethnic war against the Nuba people and vowed to protect the Nuba Mountains. He said, “The RSF is waging an ethnic war against the Nuba people. We will not allow the RSF to kill our citizens based on ethnic identity. It is our duty to protect the people of South Kordofan, and we will cut off any hand that reaches out to harm them.”
Sudanese media reported that the RSF shot at Red Cross employees in West Darfur, attacking a vehicle belonging to the International Committee of the Red Cross on Thursday, 2 May 2024. The attack resulted in the deaths of two drivers, Mohammed Saleh Jaafar from Geneina and Mohammed Ahmed from El Fasher, while a Lebanese employee and another unidentified individual were injured.
The Governor of Darfur warned the RSF against attacking 31 trucks loaded with food supplies belonging to the World Food Programme (WFP) headed to Al-Tina in South Darfur, assuring that they would receive full cooperation from the joint forces and regular forces.
Eye of Al Hakika
Signs of Return: Executive Arrangements to Ensure the Safe Return of Omdurman Citizens

WeAreComingBack

Restoring_Health

Mr. Hadi Abdulsayed, the Executive Director of Omdurman Locality, inspected pesticide spraying and war debris removal operations in collaboration with the National Mine Action Center and the National Mine Action Units.
The program targets the old neighborhoods of Omdurman, including Aburof, Wad Al-Bana, Al-Hijra, Suq Al-Shajara, Wad Nubawi, and Al-Amda. Participants in the campaign emphasized the significant work done and the need to include other safe neighborhoods to prepare them for the return of citizens, praising the interaction of these neighborhoods’ residents, youth, and supporting initiatives.
Executive Director Hadi Abdulsayed announced that the locality has moved its operations to the new headquarters in the Wad Nubawi unit at the new market to communicate with citizens and directly supervise all administrative works and follow up on services.
He urged citizens to report any issues or reach the unit via transportation available to the Al-Shohadaa neighborhood and announced the imminent resumption of activities at the new Wad Nubawi market and the reopening of bakeries.
Khartoum State Governor Ahmed Osman directed the Khartoum State Water Authority to immediately start installing pumps at the Bayt Al-Mal Water Station.
The General Manager of the Khartoum State Water Authority stated that these pumps would contribute to operating the station at 50% capacity, providing drinking water to the old neighborhoods of Omdurman and the eastern neighborhoods of Umbada locality, and pledged to double the efforts of the technical teams to quickly rehabilitate and operate the station.
According to a Nilein reporter, a video showed the return of the most famous transportation vehicle in Omdurman, the cooperative taxi, affectionately known as “Maryam the Brave” by Omdurman residents and Al-Thawrat neighborhoods, resuming its work.
Cooperative taxis were seen returning to work in Omdurman streets amid large celebrations by citizens documenting the event.
Al-Thawrat residents nicknamed the old vehicle “Maryam the Brave” due to its resilience and over 30 years of service on the Al-Thawrat to central Omdurman route.
Social media users circulated photos of the cleanup and restoration of the grand mosque in Omdurman market, the Grand Mosque, after the second meeting of the Omdurman Market Preparation Committee, attended by the Chief Prosecutor of Khartoum State and the Omdurman Police Coordinator.