Sudan officials blame RSF for mass grave of 25 bodies found

A mass grave containing at least 25 bodies was unearthed in Kurmuk, a town within Sudan's southeastern Blue Nile State. Local officials point the finger squarely at the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), alleging they committed these killings. The discovery happened just one month after the Sudanese army retook control of the area following weeks of brutal fighting.

Abdel Aty Mohamed al-Faki, who serves as the commissioner for Kurmuk, made the announcement on Sunday via The Sudan Tribune. He stated that armed forces found the burial site while conducting sweeping operations in the town's northeastern sector. Inside the pit lay the remains of children, women, and hospital staff. Al-Faki added that the executions took place near Jebel Fankat, a hilltop position where RSF troops reportedly launched drone attacks during their assault on the zone.

No comment came from the RSF regarding these accusations. This group has been locked in conflict with the Sudanese army since April 2023 and faces widespread charges of mass slaughter. Those charges extend beyond Kurmuk to include atrocities committed in the capital, Khartoum, the city of el-Fasher, and central Gezeira state.

Al Jazeera's Almigdad al-Ruhaid, reporting from Khartoum, labeled the finding "significant and disturbing." He noted that local authorities hold the RSF responsible for executing civilians while they occupied Kurmuk. The discovery arrives at a tense moment as RSF attacks continue throughout Blue Nile State. Al-Ruhaid warned that explosive drone strikes hit Kurmuk for the second day in a row. He observed that even if control lines shift on the map, fighting persists between the two sides, driving massive displacement of civilians.

Violence also rages in West Darfur, the RSF's main stronghold. Reports indicate Sudanese forces repelled paramilitary attacks in Bir Saliba, roughly 40km from el-Geneina city. The toll of this war is staggering. The World Health Organization estimates that 40,000 people have died. More than 14 million others have been forced to flee their homes.