Over 200 killed in ethnic attacks by RSF in Sudan's Darfur, say medics

Over two hundred civilians, including women and children, have been killed in a series of ethnically motivated attacks carried out by Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the Darfur region, the Sudan Doctors Network reported on Saturday. Citing testimonies from survivors who reached displacement camps near the Chad border, the network stated that civilians were deliberately targeted on ethnic grounds in the areas of Ambro and Abu Qamra in North Darfur and Sirba in West Darfur.

Details of the Assaults and Accusations

The medical group described the killings as a gross violation of international humanitarian and human rights law. There was no immediate comment from the RSF on the allegations. The reported mass killings occurred amid intensified fighting in North Darfur, where the Joint Force of Armed Movements, allied with the Sudanese army, claimed on Thursday it had repelled RSF attacks on several areas. In a statement, the joint force accused the RSF of escalating "criminal attacks against unarmed civilians," aiming to impose control through killing, forced displacement, and terror. Local sources confirmed RSF attacks on Abu Qamra and Ambro on Wednesday, with the RSF itself claiming control of those areas.

Pattern of Violence and Territorial Control

The joint force alleged that since the assault began, RSF fighters have burned entire villages, looted livestock and property, and committed grave abuses against residents. The RSF controls most of Darfur's five states, except for some northern parts of North Darfur held by the army, which in turn controls the capital Khartoum and much of the country's east, south, and center. This latest reported atrocity echoes the historical pattern of violence in Darfur, reviving fears of a renewed campaign of ethnic cleansing in the region.

Context of the Wider Conflict and International Concern

The war between the Sudanese army and the RSF, which erupted in April 2023, has killed thousands and displaced millions, creating one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. These alleged ethnically targeted killings underscore the conflict's brutal and complex nature, where control over territory and resources is often pursued through violence against civilian populations. Türkiye, which has consistently called for an immediate ceasefire and unimpeded humanitarian access in Sudan, condemns all attacks on civilians and emphasizes the urgent need for the international community to take decisive action to protect innocent lives and hold perpetrators of such atrocities accountable.