“More than 200 people have been killed in Sudan’s White Nile state as the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) intensify attacks while postponing a political charter that could solidify control over contested territories.”
Sudan’s RSF has killed over 200 people in a series of attacks over the past three days, activists reported Tuesday. The attacks, concentrated in villages near al-Gitaina, come as the paramilitary force delays signing a political charter that could establish a breakaway government.
The ongoing conflict between Sudan’s army and the RSF, now nearing its second year, has left the RSF in control of western Sudan and parts of Khartoum. However, the army has been regaining ground in central regions, including White Nile state, which has become a critical battleground.
Emergency Lawyers, a group tracking civilian casualties, detailed the scale of the latest violence. “The RSF attacked on Sunday morning with heavy weapons, firing indiscriminately. Dozens were killed instantly, and many more were injured,” an eyewitness told Reuters. The group also accused RSF forces of shooting civilians attempting to flee across the Nile, causing them to drown.
The United Nations has classified Sudan’s war as the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. Both the RSF and the Sudanese army face allegations of severe human rights abuses. The United States has officially determined that RSF forces have committed genocide in areas under their control.
The surge in violence coincides with an RSF-led initiative in Nairobi, Kenya, where the group has gathered allied politicians and armed factions to draft a “Government of Peace and Unity.” This charter would formalize RSF governance over territories it controls, marking a potential turning point in the war.
However, the signing was postponed to ensure broader representation, including input from rebel leader Abdelaziz al-Hilu’s Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N). The SPLM-N, a major secular armed faction in famine-hit South Kordofan, had previously remained neutral in the RSF-army conflict.
Aligning with SPLM-N could significantly bolster RSF forces, increasing both manpower and territorial control. “We aim to build a new state—one that rejects the corruption, discrimination, and hatred of old Sudan,” said al-Hilu.
Government officials, however, criticized the move. Spokesman Khalid Aleisir accused external forces of influencing SPLM-N’s decision, referencing long-standing allegations that the United Arab Emirates backs the RSF, a claim the UAE denies.
“In every region under their occupation, the local population outright rejects RSF rule or their vision of a so-called ‘New Sudan,’” Aleisir stated.
With White Nile state emerging as a flashpoint in Sudan’s war and political negotiations ongoing, the situation remains volatile. The delay in signing the RSF-backed charter adds further uncertainty as both sides prepare for the next phase of the conflict.
