El Haqeeqa in its tenth issue documents new violations and crimes of the Rapid Support Militia
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
El Haqeeqa
The first periodic electronic magazine specialized in monitoring and documenting the violations of the Rapid Support Militia rebels. It is published in three languages to serve as a reference for the international community, human rights mechanisms and organizations, and human rights defenders worldwide.
Issue “10”
December 2023
Introduction:
While the Sudanese Armed Forces committed to the Jeddah Declaration of Humanitarian Principles, a ceasefire, and the transition to a comprehensive political process with a pure national will to manage a transitional phase leading to general elections, the Rapid Support Militia rebels intensified their sinful aggression against citizens through killing, rape, expansion in occupying civilian homes, ethnic cleansing, targeting and destroying infrastructure and public facilities. Their violations were documented by the international community, concerned human rights organizations, and international mechanisms.
Efforts continued between the leaders of the army and IGAD leaders to stop the war and violations against the unarmed people and the destruction of the country. This included setting priorities for a peaceful solution affirming the commitment to the Jeddah Declaration and ceasefire, removing obstacles in delivering humanitarian aid, followed by a political process. However, the Rapid Support Militia continued to commit heinous crimes with military support from inside and outside the region.
El Haqeeqa in its tenth issue documents new violations and crimes of the Rapid Support Militia with new numbers and statistics regarding killings and injuries. It provides details of the new wave of bloody ethnic cleansing in Darfur, and the new massacres that claimed civilian lives through bombs of the Rapid Support Militia. El Haqeeqa also obtained reliable new reports of rape cases involving minors, women, and girls, systematic targeting of the health sector, infrastructure, public facilities, as well as documented cases of arbitrary arrests, disappearance, and forced detention outside the legal framework, and the siege of civilians cutting off their medical and food supplies.
El Haqeeqa also documented reports and demonstrations condemning and denouncing the UAE’s military support for the Rapid Support Militia in its war against the Sudanese people, with the participation of mercenaries from neighboring countries.
Eye of El Haqeeqa
The Eye of El Haqeeqa in the tenth issue monitored the efforts of the Sudanese army commander to bring peace through the gateway of IGAD.
El Haqeeqa Documents:
About 1300 people killed, 2000 injured “citizens buried alive”, and a new wave of ethnic cleansing carried out by the Rapid Support Militia with European warnings
El Haqeeqa Follow-ups
“1”
Rapid Support Militia Kills 1300 People in Darfur
November 11, 2023
Local observers told Al Jazeera that about 1300 people were killed, 2000 injured, and 310 are still missing. Monteser Saddam, who narrowly escaped death and reached Chad, said, “They went from house to house looking for men and killed everyone they found. There were many bodies in the streets.”
The recent atrocities are part of a broader campaign by the Rapid Support Forces and allied militias to eradicate the non-Arab Masalit tribe in West Darfur, according to activists and survivors.
Since the beginning of Sudan’s civil war, the UN and Western governments have condemned the systematic killings and displacement of the Masalit from their lands. However, these criticisms and concerns have not deterred the Rapid Support Forces from committing more atrocities.
“2”
Rapid Support Forces Force Citizens from Arab Tribes to Dig Their Graves with Their Hands and Bury Them Alive
Follow-ups: Sudanese
Videos showed new war crimes carried out by the rebel Rapid Support Forces in Darfur, where the forces forced citizens from non-Arab tribes to dig mass graves to bury their killed relatives, some while still alive, in inhumane scenes, adding to the series of violations committed by these forces and allied tribal militias.
Other clips showed citizens pleading with the Rapid Support soldiers not to kill them or bury them alive. The same clip showed a lot of cursing and insults directed by Rapid Support soldiers at the unarmed citizens, along with racial insults.
“3”
Sudanese Refugees Detail the Second Wave of Bloody Ethnic Cleansing by Arab Forces
Report: Reuters
This month, the Arab-led Rapid Support Forces continued to drive out the African-origin Masalit Sudanese tribe from West Darfur, and survivors described widespread killings of Masalit prisoners in a football stadium and a bridge in the regional capital. As the attacks escalated, some fear the possibility of the country’s division.
Earlier this year, the Arab forces launched a campaign of killing and rape, driving most of the African-origin Masalit tribe from the Sudanese city of Al Geneina and have now returned to finish the mission.
Dozens of survivors told Reuters that fighters led by the Sudanese paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, in early November, searched for Masalit community members to kill them. Focus: Ardimita area, a remote area in Al Geneina, capital of West Darfur.
Survivors stated that the Rapid Support Forces and allied Arab militias intensified their attacks on civilians living in the Ardimita displacement camp and surrounding neighborhoods, launching an assault on tens of thousands of residents, mostly dark-skinned Masalits. Dozens of survivors of these attacks spoke to Reuters, with many describing scenes of Masalit men being rounded up and shot. Some witnesses reported seeing individuals being hacked to death with axes and sickles. Hundreds were taken to a local football stadium where, according to two eyewitnesses, they were executed by Arab captors. Bloated bodies remained in the streets of Ardimita for several days. Houses were burned and looted, and some were stripped of their clothing when thieves stole TVs, kitchen utensils, and even doors and windows.
The attack on Ardimita followed earlier actions this year by the Rapid Support Forces, a mainly Arab paramilitary force, and allied Arab militias, which expelled hundreds of thousands of the former Masalit majority from Al Geneina. During a campaign lasting about two months, the Arab forces killed hundreds of Al Geneina residents, most of them Masalits, with many survivors fleeing to Chad. The exact number of Masalits remaining in Al Geneina is unclear. In 2022, the ethnically diverse city had a population of 540,000, according to UNICEF. Following this year’s fighting in Darfur, nearly half a million Sudanese refugees now live in camps on the Chadian side of the border.
Ardimita represents one of the last strongholds of the Masalit presence in the city. In the days following the recent attacks, Reuters journalists observed dozens of people, some injured, crossing into the city of Adré on the Chad-Sudan border.
Reuters spoke with over 70 individuals to prepare this report, including civilians and Sudanese army soldiers who survived the massacre and reached Chad. The interviews were conducted in the city of Adré, at a border crossing as refugees entered Chad, and at refugee sites in the area. This narrative of the final phase of the Arab forces’ ethnic cleansing operation against the Masalits is based on their testimonies, as well as Reuters’ analysis of satellite images, photographs, and social media footage of the violence.
The European Union estimates that over “1000” Masalits were killed in Ardimita. Josep Borrell, the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, earlier stated that the “recent atrocities” in Ardimita were part of a “wider ethnic cleansing campaign carried out by the Rapid Support Forces aimed at eliminating the non-Arab Masalit community in West Darfur”.
“4”
A Video Published on Social Media Documents a Mass Grave for Citizens in Al Geneina, Some Buried Alive
November 27, 2023
Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch reported that the “Rapid Support Forces” and allied militias killed hundreds of civilians in West Darfur in early November, as well as committed looting, assaults, and illegal detentions against dozens of Masalits in Ardimita, a suburb of Al Geneina in West Darfur.
The Security Council was urged to urgently consider ways to enhance the United Nations’ presence in Sudan to prevent further atrocities and better protect civilians in Darfur. The Council should support monitoring of human rights violations there, expand the existing arms embargo to cover all of Sudan and all parties in the current armed conflict. According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, about 800 people were killed during the early November attacks in Ardimita. Local human rights observers interviewed survivors who reached Chad and estimated the death toll, mostly civilians, to be between 1,300 and 2,000, including dozens killed on the way to Chad. 8,000 people fled to Chad, joining about 450,000, mostly women and children, displaced due to attacks in West Darfur, especially between April and June.
Human Rights Watch interviewed 20 Masalits who fled from Ardimita to eastern Chad between November 1 and 10, including three soldiers from the Sudanese Armed Forces. They described a wave of killings, bombings, illegal detentions, sexual violence, mistreatment, and looting. Aliases were used for all interviewees for their protection. Human Rights Watch also analyzed eight videos and photos posted on social media showing Rapid Support Forces detaining over 200 men and boys in Ardimita. One video shows the fighters beating a group of men. Human Rights Watch sent a letter to the Rapid Support Forces, sharing findings and questions, but received no response before the report’s publication date.
“5”
The Troika Condemns Violations by the Rapid Support Forces in West, Central, and South Darfur, Citing Reliable Reports of Mass Killings and Ethnic Targeting of Communities.
Press Release
November 17, 2023
The following statement was issued by the governments of the United States, Norway, and the United Kingdom.
The Troika (the United States, Norway, and the United Kingdom) condemns the escalating violence and human rights abuses in Sudan, particularly the attacks by the Rapid Support Forces in West, Central, and South Darfur. Reliable reports indicate that these attacks included mass killings, including ethnic targeting of non-Arabs and other communities, killing traditional leaders, arbitrary arrests, and hindering humanitarian aid access. We are also deeply concerned about reports of violence and targeting of civilians in the village of Jabal Awliya on the banks of the White Nile River.
We reaffirm that there is no acceptable military solution to the conflict and call for an end to the fighting. We urge the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces to refrain from acts that would further divide Sudan on ethnic lines or draw other forces into the ongoing conflict between them. Both sides should de-escalate and engage in meaningful discussions leading to a ceasefire and unhindered humanitarian aid access. We welcome the recent resumption of talks in Jeddah, facilitated jointly by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United States, and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), representing the African Union. We also commend the initial humanitarian commitments made by both sides on November 7.
Achieving a sustainable solution requires an end to violence and the resumption of the civilian-owned political process to form a civilian government and restore democratic transition in Sudan. We welcome the efforts of the Sudanese people in supporting humanitarian responses and calling for an end to the war and the resumption of the stalled political transition. The Troika countries (the United States, Norway, and the United Kingdom) are proud to be among the largest donors supporting the Sudanese people. We will continue to focus on efforts to ensure that diverse communities can meaningfully participate in building Sudan’s democratic future, as well as supporting displaced persons and other vulnerable communities through life-saving humanitarian aid.
El Haqeeqa Documents:
Among the new victims are two minor girls, “male children,” a girl with HIV, women raped in front of their children, and dozens subjected to kidnapping, rape, sexual slavery, and forced marriage – Reliable Reports.
“1”
Kidnapping of Two Minor Girls in Front of Their Mother
The Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa appealed to the International Committee of the Red Cross to intervene and return two girls kidnapped by the terrorist Rapid Support Militia rebels in front of their mother at night from their home in Al-Safa neighborhood, Al-Kalakla area, south of Khartoum, on November 24th.
The network, in its statement, called for the activation of gender-sensitive protection mechanisms and ensuring assistance reaches the war’s survivors and victims. The statement noted that the girls, aged 15 and 13, are part of a family of five girls living with their mother after their father left for work in gold mining areas and his whereabouts have been unknown for two years.
All the family’s attempts to find the girls after their abduction at gunpoint have failed, amidst fears due to the recurring incidents of kidnapping women and girls since last July for sexual exploitation, extortion of their families, and even selling them in markets in Darfur. An emergency room source considered these incidents a recurring pattern where especially minor girls are kidnapped and taken to the camps of the terrorist Rapid Support Militia rebels in the Wad Al-Aqli area in the outskirts of Khartoum, where they are subjected to slavery and sexual exploitation.
“2”
Rape of Women in Darfur by Rapid Support Forces and Allied Arab Militias
Reuters:
Sudanese women reported being raped at gunpoint by armed fighters during attacks in the city of Al Geneina, gathering in a refugee camp in the border town of Adré. Young women from the African-origin Masalit tribe stated they were sexually assaulted at gunpoint by the Rapid Support Forces and Arab militia forces during attacks on Al Geneina in West Darfur. One teenager said, “They raped me for three days.” A 24-year-old girl described being raped by armed men in her home just feet from her mother, and a 19-year-old boy reported being kidnapped and raped by four men over three days. A 28-year-old woman’s rights activist was kidnapped from her doorstep and raped while held for hours in an abandoned house.
Nine women described being raped by several men, and all 11 reported being assaulted at gunpoint. Three others witnessed women being raped.
International organization reports, citing allegations of targeted sexual assault of Masalit women by Rapid Support Forces and allied Arab forces in Al Geneina, stated a 15-year-old girl recounted hours-long ordeal in Al Geneina, where she and a friend were raped by five men in Rapid Support Forces uniforms, then shot and killed her friend. Hanan Idris, 22, and her sister fabricated stories to fend off Rapid Support Forces and Arab militias threatening to rape them in their home. Idris told the militias she was menstruating, while her sister claimed she had HIV.
Human Rights Watch reported dozens of women raped during earlier this year’s violence in Al Geneina, apparently targeted for their Masalit ethnic affiliation.
“3”
Forced Prostitution and Forced Marriage of Women and Girls… UN Experts Accuse Rapid Support Forces and Allies of Using Sexual Violence as a Weapon of War in Sudan
Follow-ups: Sudanese
UN experts confirmed widespread sexual violence in Sudan, sometimes ethnically motivated and used as a “weapon of war,” demanding prosecution of the perpetrators. Independent experts appointed by the Human Rights Council said in a statement published by AFP, “We are appalled by reports of widespread gender-based violence, including sexual violence, used as a war tool to subjugate, terrorize, break, and punish women and girls.”
The experts, including special rapporteurs on violence against women and girls and on child sexual exploitation and abuse, stated that the Rapid Support Forces and their allies are apparently behind most sexual violence acts observed in this conflict.
They referred to reports of rape, sexual exploitation, slavery, and human trafficking, sometimes racially, ethnically, and politically motivated, and also reported forced prostitution and forced marriage of women and girls.
The experts noted that violence often targets specific tribes by Rapid Support Forces and allied militias, sometimes targeting migrants, refugees, and stateless non-Sudanese.
They warned that “these serious acts are no longer concentrated in Khartoum and Darfur but have extended to other areas like Kordofan.”
“4”
REDO Organization Monitoring and Documenting Violations Against Women in South Darfur Reveals New Rape Cases Committed by Military Personnel of the Rapid Support Forces Against “56” Girls.
The 16-day campaign against gender-based violence ran from November 25 to December 10.
REDO organization’s director, Salma John, told Sudan Tribune that Rapid Support Forces personnel raped “56” girls, including “5” minors, “3” boys, and one death case.
Salma highlighted serious challenges facing women in South Darfur, including frequent rapes and violations due to belonging to non-Arab tribes, challenges in service providers reaching survivors due to communication and internet disruptions, and lack of funding.
Most rape victims reached Uganda for treatment, facing challenges finding specialized sites for psychological support and a lack of psychiatrists in Kampala.
In September, the director of the unit combating violence against women and children, Salima Isaac, reported that the number of girls subjected to rape and sexual violence since the conflict between the Sudanese army and Rapid Support Forces had risen to about “136” cases.
“5”
(MISHAD) Human Rights Observatory Confirms Sexual Violence Cases Against Women in War-Affected Areas by Militias.
The observatory investigates war crimes and sexual violence, documenting sexual assaults in war areas (Khartoum – Darfur region) and other conflict zones.
MISHAD Human Rights Observatory revealed Rapid Support Forces militias committed rape crimes against women in front of their children, documenting hundreds of murdered rape victims and rapes of girls under “12” years.
The observatory also noted psychological and physical illnesses among rape victims and suicide cases among raped girls, in addition to pregnancies among some raped women.
Local residents in displacement and refugee camps reported that many women in Darfur refuse to move to safer areas, preferring to stay in their homes, fearing rape and exploitation by Rapid Support Forces militias.
El Haqeeqa Documents:
The UAE Arms Rapid Support Militia Militarily to Kill Sudanese People
Exclusive Reports:
ElHaqeeqa
“1”
The Times (UK) Suggests UAE Should Cut Ties with Criminal Rapid Support Militia
The Times published an article on 27/11/2023 by former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, criticizing the UAE’s military support to the Rapid Support Militia as “the worst-kept secret.” She asserted that the UAE should not only immediately sever ties with the militia but also shun such relations. She warned that the UAE’s actions mark a dark stain on its international reputation.
“2”
US Congress Members Urge Their Government to Pressure UAE to Stop Supporting Rapid Support Forces Militarily
Washington: 07 December 2023 – US Congress members on Wednesday urged their government to apply more pressure against the UAE to halt its military aid to the Rapid Support Forces fighting the Sudanese army.
Sudanese Sovereign Council member Yasir Al-Atta accused the UAE on 28 November of supplying arms to the Rapid Support Forces through Uganda and Central Africa, likening it to a “mafia state.” This was the first official Sudanese accusation against Abu Dhabi for supporting the Rapid Support Forces.
Sudanese Sovereign Council Head Abdel Fattah al-Burhan suspended his participation in the Abu Dhabi-hosted Climate Summit.
Western media reports discussed the UAE’s role in fueling the armed conflict in Sudan by supporting the Rapid Support Forces with supplies and equipment
Congresswoman Sara Jacobs in a Foreign Relations Committee session stated that “the United States can exert much greater pressure on the UAE regarding its role in providing arms to the Rapid Support Forces, violating the UN arms embargo.”
She emphasized the urgent need to stop the war in Sudan and enable the Sudanese people to find a viable path towards peace and democracy and continued, “I am appalled by the mass atrocities committed by the Rapid Support Forces, especially in Darfur and Khartoum.”
She urged the need to hold the Rapid Support Forces accountable and recognize these atrocities for what they are.
El Haqeeqa Documents:
Mercenaries from Neighboring Countries Fight with Rapid Support Militia Against the Sudanese People:
Port Sudan: Sudanese – December
The Sudanese Refugees’ Commission expressed deep concern over reports and videos circulating in the media showing foreigners from neighboring countries fighting within the rebel militia forces.
Activists and citizens shared videos and photos of nationals from neighboring countries fighting with the Rapid Support Forces, some looting citizens’ properties.
The Commission stated that these reports described the mercenaries as having been recruited from refugee camps in various areas of Sudan.
The Commission committed to investigating these incidents to confirm if these individuals were indeed from the refugee camps within Sudan. It added, “If proven, legal actions will be taken according to asylum laws and national laws, which prohibit refugees from engaging in activities outside their camp, especially those hostile to the host state and fighting against its people and army.”
The Commission affirmed that the 2014 Asylum Law and international laws allow the host state to withdraw and cancel the refugee status in case of such violations, which means lifting international protection and prosecuting them under Sudanese laws.
El Haqeeqa Documents:
Militia Targets New Hospitals, Shoots at the Medical Director of Bashaer Hospital, Steals Ambulances, and Loots Medical Equipment from Khartoum Hospitals to Niyala
“1”
Looting and Destruction of Soba University Hospital – December 2023
Soba University Hospital was systematically looted and vandalized by the Janjaweed militia. Militia members, trained in the Soba area after the outbreak of the war and reportedly from neighborhoods surrounding the hospital, were the main perpetrators. The vandalism included the Mycetoma Research Center, the central laboratory, the examination center, SATI laboratory research center, the private wing, and the administrative block. All vehicles, including ambulances and vehicles of the University of Khartoum’s Faculty of Laboratory Sciences, were looted. Diagnostic workstations, an arterial catheterization device, and vital signs monitors were stolen. The catheterization department, established and designed to the highest standards for interventional radiology, peripheral interventional catheterization, cerebral catheterization, and cardiac catheterization, was destroyed. This recently completed project had begun treating a significant number of cases and training personnel.
“2”
Rapid Support Militia Shoots at the Medical Director of Bashaer Hospital; Medical Staff Go on Open Strike
Bashaer Hospital medical staff announced a strike due to an assault by a Rapid Support Forces member who shot at the hospital’s medical director and an emergency room member, also threatening the medical team on duty.
The South Hizam Emergency Room strongly condemned the barbaric act committed by the Rapid Support Militia and announced its support for the strike option to protect the rights and dignity of the medical staff.
“3”
Rapid Support Militia Destroys Abu Saad Health Center with Artillery Fire
The Resistance Committees in Omdurman’s Al-Fitihab revealed that continuous artillery shelling by the Rapid Support Militia in the area resulted in injuries to five civilians. The shelling also caused significant damage to the Abu Saad Charitable Health Center in Square 7.
“4”
ElHaqeeqa
In its continuous targeting of the healthcare sector, the Rapid Support Militia looted medical equipment from “Soba University, Ibn Sina, and Al-Zaytoona” hospitals and transported it to Nyala Hospital using tractors.
The militia also stormed the Pediatric Cancer Hospital in Wad Madani, took control of it, looted its ambulance, and assaulted the medical staff at Rafaa Hospital, killing a doctor.
ElHaqeeqa
Hospitals_Are_Not_Targets
El Haqeeqa Documents:
The Militia Destroys New Facilities and Infrastructure
“1”
December 6, 2023
Press Release from the Sudanese Army
Following its failed coup attempt on April 15, 2023, to seize power and turn the country into a private monarchy, the rebel militia caused a fire at some facilities of the Khartoum Refinery in Al Jaily by destroying control units of the refinery. The militia then attempted to falsely blame the Sudanese Armed Forces for this heinous crime. The Sudanese Armed Forces hold the Rapid Support Forces and their foreign mercenaries responsible for this major crime and the resulting damage to the facility and the surrounding community, especially as they had occupied the refinery since the first day of their ill-fated rebellion. The international and regional community is urged to promptly classify them as a terrorist organization.
“2”
Looting and Destruction of Am Adara Oil Station After Security Forces Withdraw
November 28, 2023
The Association of Oil Sector Workers in West Kordofan reported that marauders burned and vandalized the Petro Energy pumping station in the Am Adara area, looting its contents after the security forces withdrew. The association published photos on Facebook showing the fire at the station. The report confirmed that the fire at the Am Adara station in West Kordofan was deliberate, and the station was subject to theft and deliberate destruction. The station belongs to Petro Energy and plays a technical role in pumping crude oil through pipelines from the Balila area, controlled by the Rapid Support Forces in West Kordofan, approximately 1,000 kilometers west of Khartoum. The station is also located in an area plagued by armed gangs, and there are concerns about the collapse of the oil sector due to repeated attacks on oil facilities.
“3”
Sudanese Journalists’ Union Condemns Detention of Civilians by Rapid Support Forces in Broadcasting Corporation Building
The Sudanese Journalists’ Union condemned the use of the Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) buildings by Rapid Support Forces (RSF) as detention centers and later selling SBC’s equipment in the Omdurman markets.
The union confirmed in a statement that witnesses detained at the SBC facilities in Omdurman affirmed the RSF’s use of these structures as temporary prisons. The statement highlighted documented accounts of RSF’s involvement in selling Sudanese radio equipment in the Omdurman markets.
The union strongly condemned this irresponsible behavior, emphasizing that it exposes the country’s historical heritage to potential destruction and extinction.
The union also revealed that the Rapid Support Forces vandalized and looted the 24 and Al-Balad channels in Khartoum, as well as the BBC’s Khartoum office. Equipment belonging to the Blue Nile channel was also reported to be sold in the Libya market in Omdurman.
The union urged the RSF to immediately vacate these institutions and called on regional and international organizations committed to press freedom and media safety to unequivocally condemn these violations and actively work to rectify the consequences of this aggression.
Amid allegations of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and ethnic cleansing, the paramilitary forces in Khartoum have been accused of forcibly occupying civilians’ homes and looting their properties.
“4”
Sudanese activists circulated photos and videos on social media platforms demonstrating the involvement of the rebel Rapid Support Militia in the burning and destruction of the Shambat and Jebel Awliya bridges, Byblos Bank, the headquarters of Al-Sudani newspaper, and the Al-Nahla Petroleum depot.
El Haqeeqa Documents:
Disappearance of 842 Civilians and Detainees Report Abuse in Rapid Support Forces Detention Facilities
Report
December 5, 2023 – The Sudanese Group for Victims of Enforced Disappearances revealed the disappearance of 842 civilians in Sudan since the war between the Sudanese army and Rapid Support Forces ignited on April 15 until December 4.
The group released a report on October 21, covering the period from April 15 to October 15, in Khartoum, Omdurman, Khartoum North, Wad Madani in Al Jazirah State, Al-Obeid in North Kordofan, Nyala, Al Fashir, Al Geneina, and Zalingei in Darfur. The report confirmed the disappearance of males, females, children, and 9 individuals with mental disorders.
Detainees held in Rapid Support Forces detention facilities reported being subjected to beatings, forced to stand in the sun, deprived of bathing, and compelled to load food and ammunition. The report highlights the severe conditions and human rights violations endured by the detainees.
Osman Al-Basri, a member of the Sudanese Group for Victims of Enforced Disappearances, informed Sudan Tribune that the number of missing persons due to the war has reached 842, including 127 missing from the Jebel Aulia area, about 45 kilometers south of Khartoum.
He added that the number of missing persons cases registered in the public prosecutor’s office in Wad Madani, the capital of Al Jazirah State, reached 471.
Al-Basri confirmed that dozens of families reported receiving extortion calls demanding ransom payments ranging from one billion Sudanese pounds (about $1,000) to five billion pounds (about $5,000) for the release of their missing family members.
He urged the families of the missing not to deal with these scammers and to contact the Sudanese Group for Victims of Enforced Disappearances directly or through their Facebook page or the “Wadeetohom Wein” campaign on Twitter for legal assistance.
According to the report, violations recorded in October included kidnapping, detention, and disappearance of individuals without their families knowing their fate.
Detainees in Rapid Support Forces detention facilities reported being subjected to beatings, forced to stand in the sun, deprived of bathing, and compelled to load food and ammunition.
The report also noted the disappearance of 49 women since the war began, with the possibility of them being subjected to rape.
The report confirmed the disappearance of 18 children since April 15, constituting a violation of several provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
During the first six months of the war, the most enforced disappearance cases were recorded in May with 141 cases. Khartoum city had the highest number of disappearances with 309 cases, followed by Omdurman with 156 cases and Khartoum North with 130 cases.
Disappearances were also recorded in Al-Obeid in North Kordofan and Nyala in South Darfur with 3 cases each, along with two cases in Al Fashir in North Darfur and one case each in Al Geneina and Zalingei in West and Central Darfur. The report highlighted 110 cases of disappearance that were not precisely located but occurred within the war-affected states.
In terms of gender, the report documented the disappearance of 666 males, including 650 adults and 16 minors, and 49 females, 47 adults and 2 minors.
El Haqeeqa Documents:
Militia Bombs Claim Dozens of Civilian Lives in Umm Durman Area
“1”
On November 24, 2023, the Emergency Room of Al-Qamayir reported that militia bombs claimed the lives of 9 civilians in the Al-Qamayir area. The deceased are:
1 – El Hadi Badawi
2- Awad Abdel Aal
3 – Khalid Al-Farjouni
4- Osman Khaled (lawyer)
5 – Essam Ali Omar
6 – Asim Ihab
7- Muawiya Hassan
8- Ahmed Amals (Abu Kak)
9- Mohamed Al-Bahiri.
“2”
On November 26, 2023, the Resistance Committees of Al-Fitihab announced the martyrdom of 4 citizens from one family and numerous injuries.
The Resistance of Al-Fitihab stated that continuing its terrorist approach, the Rapid Support Militia shelled Al-Fitihab with artillery, resulting in the martyrdom of:
Abdullah Al-Awad Belah
Buthaina Abdul Samad Fadlallah Al-Jaili
Setna Abdul Samad Fadlallah Al-Jaili
Muhasen Abdul Samad Fadlallah Al-Jaili.
In another statement, the committees reported that the Janjaweed forces randomly shelled the “Um Dafso” market with heavy artillery, leading to the martyrdom of 6 citizens and injuring more than 30.
El Haqeeqa Documents:
New Siege by the Militia on Civilians in Old Umm Durman, Residents Plead for Help from the Corps of Engineers
Amidst “Hunger and Thirst,” Humanitarian Catastrophe in Umm Durman.
November 23, 2023
The Coordination of Resistance Committees of Al-Arba’een, Al-Fil, Al-Murada, and Al-Ardah in Umm Durman city stated that the citizens of these areas suffer from hunger and thirst due to the siege imposed by the Rapid Support Forces.
They added that residents suffer greatly from the lack of food and medicine amid power outages and water cuts, lacking the simplest life necessities.
The statement mentioned the Rapid Support Forces’ threat to anyone trying to leave the area and prevent residents from escaping the near-certain famine.
The statement viewed these actions as a humanitarian catastrophe, emphasizing that civilians should never be a battleground for settling scores in conflicts. It urged an immediate halt to targeting defenseless civilians.
The coordination called on local and international organizations to intervene to save the inhabitants, allow the entry of medicine and food, or open safe passages for the residents, especially those with special needs.
The statement highlighted that the Rapid Support Forces are applying the same siege to the people of Al-Fitihab and other parts of Sudan.
In an urgent appeal, the coordination called on the military region command in Umm Durman, especially the Corps of Engineers and the Medical Corps, to rescue the trapped citizens in neighborhoods such as Banat East and West, Al-Murada, Al-Abassiya, Abu Kaduk, Officers’ Area, and Red Sea Team from the siege.
El Haqeeqa Documents:
Rapid Support Militia Arrests Civilians
“1”
Continued Detention of Journalist by Rapid Support Forces for the Sixth Month
11/22/2023
The Sudanese Journalists Network condemned the ongoing detention of journalist Abdul Rahman Warab of the Sudan News Agency (SUNA) by the Rapid Support Forces for the sixth month.
The network stated that Warab was arbitrarily and unlawfully detained in June, with his family failing to contact him or obtain any information about his whereabouts.
The network expressed concern about his possible torture, noting his case falls under enforced disappearance due to the lack of disclosure about his detention location, denying family and lawyers visits, knowing his health status and reasons for arrest, and access to medical care, all in violation of international humanitarian law.
The network held the Rapid Support Forces responsible for his security and safety and condemned the systematic violations against journalists and civilians in general.
According to human rights reports published in July, the Rapid Support Forces detain over 5000 people in inhumane conditions in Khartoum, including 3500 civilians, women, and foreign nationals.
“2”
Militia Arrests ‘3’ Human Rights Defenders
11/27/2023
The African Center for Justice and Peace Studies expressed deep concern for the physical safety of four Sudanese citizens, including three human rights defenders detained by the Rapid Support Forces in Zalingei, Central Darfur, since October 10. The center stated that family members and lawyers have been unable to reach the detainees and noted the well-documented use of torture and other forms of maltreatment by the Rapid Support Forces, especially during isolated detention, raising serious concerns for their safety.
El Haqeeqa Documents:
African Center for Justice and Peace Studies Documents Torture and Mistreatment by Rapid Support Militia
The African Center for Justice and Peace Studies recently documented instances of torture and mistreatment of detainees by the Rapid Support Forces, including threats of sexual violence, whipping with horse whips, standing in the sun for long hours, and deprivation of food, among other abuses.
The Center revealed that the detainees include Ali Sayed Adam Hassan, a 28-year-old teacher, and Mohamed Ibrahim Osman, who was arrested by a group of ten individuals from the Rapid Support Forces in Zalingei on November 6, 2023. The third detainee, Osman, a 49-year-old high school teacher, was accused of working and conspiring with the Sudanese army. He was transferred to the Rapid Support Forces base in Zalingei, where he is currently held.
“3”
Rapid Support Militia Kidnaps Engineer, Demands Ransom for His Release
December 2023
The Water Authority condemned the kidnapping of engineer Azhari Al-Sir Mohamed Al-Hassan from his home by the Rapid Support Militia, who took him to an unknown location.
The Public Relations and Media Administration stated in a press release that the abduction of their colleague Azhari is a criminal act and a violation of humanitarian law. They noted that the militia has a history of abducting water workers and engineers from their homes and workplaces, subjecting them to the worst forms of abuse. The administration mentioned the arrest and killing of several of their staff in recent months.
They also revealed that the group that kidnapped engineer Azhari demanded a ransom of three billion Sudanese pounds.
The Water Authority held the Rapid Support Militia responsible for his personal safety and appealed to humanitarian organizations to intervene for his release and return to his family.
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Voice of Sudan – December 2023
The Sudanese Teachers’ Committee announced that a force from the Rapid Support Forces abducted Saif Osman, a secondary school teacher in Umbadda locality, from his home in the fourth quarter.
The Committee holds the Rapid Support Forces responsible for his safety and demands his release.
Eye of El Haqeeqa:
Sudanese Army Chief Warns of the Dangers of Foreign Interventions: Rejects Outcomes of IGAD Summit
Djibouti, December 9, 2023
The 41st extraordinary session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) commenced in Djibouti. Attendees included the Chairman of Sudan’s Sovereignty Council, Gen. Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, along with the U.S. Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Mike Hammer, the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy Ramtane Lamamra, and the EU Special Envoy Annette Weber, as well as heads and representatives of IGAD member states.
Several presidents addressed the summit, emphasizing the importance of ending the war and achieving peace, security, and stability in Sudan, as well as realizing the Sudanese people’s aspirations for the desired democratic transition.
Chairman Al-Burhan delivered a detailed speech discussing the efforts to peacefully resolve the Sudanese crisis. He reiterated his commitment to peace, stopping bloodshed, and halting the systematic destruction the country is facing.
Al-Burhan highlighted the significance of signing the Jeddah Declaration of Humanitarian Principles as an early and real opportunity to peacefully end the crisis, if only the rebels had adhered to it. He stated that there is no doubt about the rebellion’s lack of political will to stop its war against the state and citizens.
He stressed the importance of the IGAD summit, expressing his full conviction that IGAD could play a fundamental role in understanding the reality of Sudan and its current situation, given its historical role in achieving peace in Sudan. He expressed hope that the summit would result in decisions and recommendations that would assist in achieving this goal.
Despite the barbaric attacks by the Rapid Support Militia, which he described as unprecedented in modern history, targeting civilians through killing, ethnic cleansing, rape, looting, and destruction of public institutions and infrastructure, Al-Burhan affirmed that they had not closed the door to peaceful solutions. He welcomed every effort leading to the cessation of bloodshed and the destruction of the country and positively engaged with all sincere initiatives from IGAD, neighboring countries, and the Jeddah platform.
Al-Burhan emphasized, “It’s time for our regional organization to follow the lead of those international organizations,” which have condemned, monitored, and documented the crimes of the support militias, as reported by international and human rights organizations and the global media.
Chairman of the Sovereignty Council highlighted the danger of foreign interventions in the current crisis, manifested in the ongoing supply of arms from both inside and outside the region and even outside the African continent, as well as the continued arrival of mercenaries from some neighboring countries, both near and far. These factors contribute to prolonging the war and committing more atrocities.
Al-Burhan asserted that the priorities for a peaceful solution to the Sudanese crisis include affirming commitment to the Jeddah Declaration of Humanitarian Principles, the complete evacuation of civilian buildings and citizens’ homes, a ceasefire, gathering rebel forces in agreed-upon areas, removing obstacles to delivering urgent humanitarian aid to all in need, returning looted property to citizens, and subsequently initiating a comprehensive political process based on pure national will to reach a national consensus on managing the transitional period and conducting general elections.
He stressed the importance of adhering to Sudan’s sovereignty, independence, territorial and people’s unity, and rejecting all foreign interventions in the country’s internal affairs. Al-Burhan stated, “The existence of a single national army that monopolizes military force is a non-negotiable issue and there can be no leniency in this matter, as it is a fundamental guarantee for stability and peace not only in Sudan but in the entire region.”
He added that bearing arms and waging war against the state cannot be a means to gain undeserved political privileges, and access to power can only be achieved through elections. Enforcing the principle of accountability and ensuring no impunity for the unprecedented atrocities committed by the rebels is the only way to prevent their recurrence, achieve justice, mend the social fabric, and stabilize the country.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Office of the Spokesperson and Media Management
Regarding the statement issued by the IGAD secretariat on behalf of the heads of state and government at the emergency summit no. 41 on December 10, 2023, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would like to clarify the following:
- The IGAD summit was held on Saturday, December 9, 2023, in Djibouti. Due to time constraints, the secretariat could not prepare the final statement draft until late evening. The draft was sent to member states for approval to be released today, Sunday, December 10, 2023.
- Upon receiving the draft, Sudan informed the IGAD secretariat that it had fundamental observations and reservations, as certain paragraphs were included without justification and did not accurately reflect what was agreed upon. Sudan provided the secretariat with these observations.
- In clear violation of the IGAD’s basic principle requiring consensus among members for decision-making, the secretariat hastily issued a final statement without including the reservations and observations presented by the Sudanese delegation. Therefore, Sudan does not consider this statement representative of the summit’s outcomes and disassociates itself from it until IGAD’s presidency and secretariat rectify this.
- The observations presented by the Sudanese delegation on the draft of the final statement included:
a. Deleting the mention of the participation of the UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs in the summit, as it did not occur.
b. Removing the reference to IGAD heads holding consultations with the dissolved Rapid Support Militia, as this is contrary to the truth. The Chairman of the Transitional Sovereignty Council, a member of IGAD, did not participate or hear about consultations with the representatives of the rebellion. The rebel delegation arrived on a plane provided by the UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.
c. Correcting the mention of the Chairman of the Transitional Sovereignty Council’s agreement to meet the rebellion leader. He conditioned such a meeting on a permanent ceasefire and the withdrawal of rebel forces from the capital to designated areas outside it.
d. Deleting the paragraph referring to a phone call between IGAD presidents and the rebellion leader, as this call occurred between the Kenyan president and the rebellion leader after the summit ended. Hence, it shouldn’t be included in the final statement as part of the summit’s proceedings.
e. Modifying the paragraph condemning foreign interventions to avoid equating the armed forces with the rebellion.
f. Including a reference to the “Initiative of the Neighboring Countries of Sudan” presented by the Arab Republic of Egypt in the paragraph discussing initiatives to resolve the crisis in Sudan.
g. Emphasizing the necessity of consulting with the Government of Sudan and obtaining its approval in any endeavor to resolve the crisis.
h. Since none of these observations were considered, the statement lacks consensus and therefore cannot be considered a legal document from IGAD.
Issued on Sunday, December 10, 2023
Eye of El Haqeeqa:
The Chairman of the Sovereignty Council and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces visited the wounded and injured of the Battle of Dignity at the Military Hospital in the city of Shendi.
