November 1, Nairobi — At least 18 people have been killed in the eastern Gezira state in the last 48 hours in continuing retaliatory attacks by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), reports say.
The RSF launched a large-scale attack on villages in eastern, northern, and western El Gezira after Abu Aqla Keikil, the RSF commander in Gezira state, switched allegiance to the Sudanese army on Oct. 21.
The ongoing violence has received international condemnation. Last week, the United Nations accused the RSF of “atrocious crimes” specifically in Gezira state, saying that 124 people had been killed. The forces was also accused by the UN of “large scale” sexual violence in areas under their control, leading to women committing suicide.
The Sudan Tribune reported that the attacks have been continuing this week. The Al-Jazirah Conference, a Sudanese civilian group said that RSF soldiers attacked the village of Al-Faj Al-Bashir on Thursday, killing eight people and seriously wounding others.
The RSF also imposed a tight siege on the village of Wad Al-Fadl on Wednesday, killing six people and setting fires to homes.
Local authorities reported the arrival of 30,000 displaced persons from eastern Gezira to New Half and Atbara on Wednesday