By In a shocking act of violence amid Sudan’s ongoing civil war, at least 150 people were killed and 200 injured when rebel forces from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) attacked Wad al-Nour village in the central Al-Jazira state on Wednesday. Eyewitnesses described scenes of terror and carnage as over 40 armed vehicles stormed the village, unleashing heavy weaponry on its inhabitants, primarily targeting civilians, including children and women.
According to local officials and witnesses, the attack has further exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in Sudan, where more than 7 million people have been displaced since the war began a year ago. Eyewitnesses reported the grim task of counting the dead and injured, with one stating, “So far, we’ve buried more than 120 people in a mass grave in the middle of the village.”
Footage shared on social media and geolocated by CNN shows a large crowd in Wad Al-Noura village surrounding dozens of shrouded dead bodies as preparations were being made for their burial. Another video allegedly shows the RSF militia firing heavy and medium weapons towards the village.
The RSF acknowledged the attack in a statement, claiming it was a pre-emptive strike on Sudan’s Armed Forces (SAF) camps in Wad Al-Noura in response to a planned attack by the army. However, they did not acknowledge the reported civilian deaths. Eyewitnesses told CNN that there is no military presence in the village, although the Sudanese army operates a base about 30 km southwest of Wad Al-Noura, which is being cited as a possible reason for the attack.
Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, SAF Commander-in-Chief and President of the Sudanese Transitional Sovereignty Council, vowed to retaliate after visiting survivors in a nearby city. The Sudanese Transitional Sovereignty Council condemned the RSF’s actions, describing them as part of a systematic campaign of violence against civilians.
The attack on Wad al-Nour village is the latest atrocity in the conflict between forces loyal to army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, head of the RSF. Both sides have faced accusations of civilian massacres since the war began in April 2023.
The UN and international organizations have expressed deep concern over the reported violence and the escalating humanitarian crisis in Sudan. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) warned that the number of internally displaced people could top 10 million in the coming days, with looming famine and disease adding to the devastation caused by the conflict.
As the situation in Sudan continues to deteriorate, the international community is calling for a thorough investigation and accountability for those responsible for the atrocities committed against civilians. Last week, the UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Alice Wairimu Nderitu, warned that the situation in Sudan bears all the marks of genocide risk, with strong allegations that this crime has already been committed.
Credit: CNN
