Sudan’s Tagadum coalition condemns RSF attacks on civilians

June 22, 2024 (KHARTOUM) – The Coordination of Civil Forces “Tagadum” strongly condemned the recent attacks by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on civilians in the Ad Babakir region east of Khartoum and in the village of Asir in Al-Jazirah state.

Since last Wednesday, Ad Babakir has been the target of repeated RSF attacks, resulting in widespread looting of shops, properties and homes, as well as the indiscriminate killing of at least seven civilians.

In a similar incident, at least 18 civilians were killed in the village of Asir on Friday after RSF-affiliated forces carried out a violent attack.

In a statement released on Saturday, the Tagadum Coordination condemned these attacks as a “flagrant violation of the right to protection of civilians in conflict” and stressed that these actions “constitute a persistent violation of the right to protection of civilians in conflict, which is guaranteed by all local and international human rights treaties and laws.”

They pointed out that these incidents are only the latest in a long series of “serious crimes and abuses that have claimed the lives of thousands of innocent civilians since the outbreak of war on April 15.”

The RSF has maintained control of most of East Nile township in Khartoum state since the early days of the conflict, and its widespread human rights abuses have forced many residents to flee.

The coalition called on “all human rights activists, media workers, human rights defenders and all those concerned with Sudan’s affairs to stand with the innocent civilians and work together to end this war that has brought nothing but bitterness and pain to the Sudanese people.”

They called on these groups to “work together to put an end to the ongoing crimes, abuses and atrocities that millions of innocent people have had to endure since the outbreak of the war.”

Since the outbreak of the war, the coalition of pro-democracy forces has been accused of remaining silent or only timidly condemning the crimes committed by parts of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

In a political declaration signed by both the RSF and Tagadum leadership in Addis Ababa on January 2, the paramilitary force pledged to protect civilians and allow humanitarian access.

A report by the East Nile Observatory for Human Rights shows that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) attacking Ad Babakir have announced their intention to forcibly evict the population.

The Observatory reported that the RSF looted all the houses on the main street, as well as shops, pharmacies and bakeries, and often burned the shops down afterwards.

The report detailed crimes committed by the paramilitary group, including kidnappings, arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances and torture of civilians, some of which resulted in deaths.

It was also reported that at least seven people were killed by direct gunfire. The RSF also kidnapped several young men and took them to unknown locations. However, some prisoners were later released after mediation by local leaders.

The report said the deadly attacks and looting in Ad Babakir had led to shortages of food, medicine and essential goods in the southern and central areas and on main roads.

In addition, the theft of cell phones and Starlink devices has severely impacted citizens’ ability to receive financial assistance from abroad, which many depend on.

The Observatory strongly condemned the serious attacks by RSF-affiliated groups against the civilian population in Ad Babakir and the wider East Nile area.

She called for the withdrawal of armed forces from civilian areas and an immediate end to repeated attacks and abuses against residents.