Khartoum: 9 killed, several kidnapped in RSF rampage

The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have killed nine civilians, kidnapped, and tortured several others in Edd Babikir area in Sharg el-Nil locality of Khartoum city, local human rights agency reported.

The Sharg el-Nil Human Rights Observatory said that the whereabouts of several other people remained unknown.

According to a preliminary report on violations in Edd Babikir in Sharg el-Nil, obtained by Radio Tamazuj, the region has faced repeated attacks by RSF forces since last Wednesday. The forces have conducted widespread looting of shops, personal properties, street vendors’ goods and homes.

The statement indicated that the attackers declared their intention to forcibly displace the residents, asserting that they did not want anyone remaining in the area. The looting continued, with all homes, shops, pharmacies and bakeries along the main street being ransacked, and some set ablaze after being looted.

The report highlighted that the aggressor forces were carrying out kidnappings, arbitrary detentions, and enforced disappearances, torturing citizens, including the elderly and the children, inside their homes.

The Observatory has appealed to international and national organizations for urgent intervention in Edd Babikir, which is densely populated with the local residents and the displaced people.

The Observatory spokesperson, Musab Mahjoub, told Radio Tamazuj: “What the RSF has done in Edd Babikir constitutes severe violations, leading to the deaths of nine people and dozens of detainees, missing persons, and forcibly disappeared individuals.”

He described the situation in Sharg Al-Neel as extremely complicated, with significant challenges in monitoring the situation on the ground.

He pointed out that RSF had been violating the Um Dom area daily for more than a week, looting thousands of cars and conducting widespread arrests in East l-Jereif, attacking shelters in Al-Eylafoon, and displacing the internally displaced persons.

Additionally, RSF attacked Kateranj in Sharg el-Nil, resulting in the deaths of at least five people and injuries to several others.

An RSF advisor, Haroun Midikheer, told Radio Tamazuj: “The perpetrators of the crimes in Edd Babikir have been arrested, and a settlement was reached with the families of the deceased. We apologize to any citizen for anything done by our forces, and we will fight violators with an iron fist.”

He added: “We want to establish a state of justice and equality, and there is a military force patrolling Khartoum to reduce the spread of crime.”

Midikheer clarified that they are considered a regular force that was part of the armed forces before the war, approved by parliament, and not a random one with the mission to kill.

He mentioned that groups, which had joined RSF after being released from prisons, were criminals who had committed heinous crimes. Some of them have been arrested and imprisoned in Soba and Madani.

He said further that there was an ongoing campaign targeting such individuals, with some being arrested and others killed.

Midikheer stated that they were considering creating a force to protect the civilians in all states, starting with Khartoum and Al-Jazeera.

“We are on alert for anyone who assaults citizens or causes them harm,” he concluded.