Sudan’s army discovers mass graves in reclaimed Khartoum State

Just days after the ruling Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) rejoiced that Khartoum State was completely “free” from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), they discovered the remains of hundreds of victims in the city of Omdurman. According to the Algerian-friendly news outlet AL24 News, the graves were found during a demining operation on May 22.

The SAF, in a Facebook statement, announced that they had rescued “a substantial number of citizens” and retired members of the regular forces who had been detained by the rival Rapid Support Forces (RSF), though exact figures are not known.

The victims were held in a school in the Al-Salha area, where they were “used as human shields under horrific, inhumane conditions,” the SAF said.

648 citizens had been detained by the RSF, of which 465 died due to neglect, lack of food, medical care, and medication. “The deceased were buried in mass graves, some containing more than 27 bodies,” the statement added.

In late March, after the SAF announced that they had successfully reclaimed key areas in Khartoum state, pushing the RSF to the to southern and western areas of Omdurman.

Al-Salha and the surrounding villages of Al-Jamoiya later became the scene of intense and violent clashes between the Sudanese army and RSF forces, resulting in widespread civilian atrocities.

In 2024, Sudan topped the International Rescue Committee’s Emergency Watchlist for deteriorating humanitarian crises. As the war between the RSF and SAF continues to engulf the country for the third consecutive year, graveyards are fast expanding. According to a report by Reuters, burial grounds across Darfur have grown up to three times faster in the first half of 2024 compared to the latter half of 2023.

In March, the Guardian investigated an RSF base shortly after it was retaken by the SAF. They discovered apparent torture chambers, with manacles hanging from doors, and bloodstains on the floor. Accounts from those who had been detained describe being repeatedly tortured by their captors. Nearby was a large burial site with at least 550 unmarked graves, many of them freshly dug and a number containing multiple bodies.

Since the onset of the war in April 2023, at least 15,500 people while some estimates are as high as 150,000 and counting. The RSF has been accused of horrific crimes against humanity by several international bodies including the UN and the Human Rights Watch.

The SAF has also come under fire for indiscriminate aerial bombing which has led to significant civilian casualties.