Thousands displaced after violence in Sudanese state Al Gezira
An uptick in violence in Sudan’s Al Gezira state has displaced thousands, according to Africa News and agencies on November 24th.
The recent increase in violence follows the defection of an RSF commander to Sudan’s Army, which has led to intensified attacks. The Al-Gezira Conference Group reports that over tens of thousands have been displaced in over 500 village evacuations.
“Since the commander’s defection, the RSF has killed hundreds of people and besieged numerous villages,” said independent analyst Abdulmoniem Abu-Idrees. “These crimes demand urgent intervention. Without justice for the victims, the situation could fuel ethnic divisions.”
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“The RSF (Rapid Support Forces) are killing everyone—women, children, men, and the elderly. They invaded our peaceful villages to exact revenge for no reason. People are paying huge ransoms to escape,” said local mother of three Hadeel Abdelnasir, who fled to Port Sudan to escape the violence.
Another displaced mother now in Port Sudan, Rashida Yousif, described the horrors she and her group endured as they escaped.
“We are five families who escaped together. One family was tortured, and a woman was raped in front of her husband. One of the men was beaten by the RSF. Some of my relatives in Al-Hilaliya were poisoned. We’ve lost so many loved ones,” she recounted.
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Efforts to negotiate an end to the violence have failed. This week, Russia vetoed a UN Security Council resolution which called for the protection of civilians and the halting of hostilities.
“The recent attacks in Al-Gezira have forced tens of thousands to flee,” said journalist Naba Mohideen, reporting from Port Sudan. “Families are desperate, with no end to the violence in sight.”
Africa News, AP
