Sudan’s massacre of over 150 villagers sparks global outcry

Khartoum. Local and foreign organisations have condemned the recent massacre of over 150 people in Wad Al Noura near the capital of Khartoum, Sudan.

The village of Wad Al-Noura is located in the state of Al-Jazira, a state next to Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, with most of the residents from the Al-Kawahla tribe.

The widely condemned killings occurred when the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) rebels allegedly raided the village on June 5, 2024, using motorbikes and TLC trucks, and attacked citizens despite popular resistance.

Reports from Khartoum say the militia attacked the area with vengeance and ferocity, using sophisticated weaponry such as Doscan and SPG-9 cannons to break the defence of the popular resistance, which was stationed at a six-kilometre distance west of the village.

“The RSF looted more than 20 vehicles, medicines, and food supplies and transported them to areas under their control. They also killed all members of the resistance and doctors at the hospital,” reports from Khartoum say.

Further reports say, over 150 people were killed, while more than 100 others were wounded and transferred to the nearby town of Al-Manaqil.

According to reports, the rebels re-entered the village on June 6 and killed eight citizens, prompting residents to flee to distant villages for fear of the village being attacked again.

The RSF militia claimed that the attack was staged to retaliate against the mobilisation of the Mujahideen Brigades and the Sudanese Armed Forces SAF (they call the Burhan militia) that had mobilised large forces at three camps in the village to attack their rebel forces at Jabal Awliya (Khartoum).

Since then, local and international organisations have been condemning the killings and calling for immediate action to end the vice.

The Sudanese Congress Party condemned the massacre, described it as a heinous crime, and demanded an end to the violations as well as an end to the war through peaceful and negotiated means.

The National Umma Party held the rebel group fully responsible for the massacre, considered the killings a war crime, and appealed for condemnation from human rights organisations.

The Popular Congress Party leader, Dr Amin Mahmoud, condemned the world’s silence regarding the genocide against the Sudanese people and called for mobilisation and support for the oppressed.

The Unionist Assembly condemned the attack, noting the violation of the limits of protecting civilians in conflicts, and called for the formation of an independent fact-finding committee by the UN Security Council as well as regional, and international courts.

The Future Movement for Reform and Development stated that the incident was close to revenge campaigns, referring to the move as terrorism that requires group cohesion.

The National Movement for Building and Development has belittled the expressions of condemnation and denunciation, noting that they had insufficient words to describe the aggressors’ actions.

The Revolutionary Charter to Establish People’s Authority stated that the people disapproved of the militia’s narrative about the presence of military activity in the village.

The National Movement reiterated that what had happened in the village of Wad Al-Noura was a war crime and called on the Sudanese political forces not to limit themselves to condemnation but to move with human rights organisations to besiege the militia.

The Movement to Support Sharia and the State of Law called on the leaders of the armed forces to arm the popular resistance to support the oppressed, considering the arming delay as high treason.

Popular Resistance said: “What happened in Wad al-Noura accelerates the empowerment of popular resistance and the mobilisation of youth to confront the militia threat. The only option is popular armed resistance and uprising, appreciating the role played by armed forces and sacrifices made.”

The Republican Party described what happened in the village of Wad al-Noura as a battle between the RSF and the Popular Resistance and had nothing to do with unarmed civilians.

The UN General Assembly Secretariat strongly condemned the attack, appealing to all parties to refrain from attacks that could affect civilians and infrastructure.

The statement signed by the official spokesman, Mr Stephane de Jarric, expressed concern about the suffering of the Sudanese due to endless conflicts and called for silencing the guns.

“I reaffirm the UN’s commitment to working with international mediators and all parties to end the conflict,” reads the statement.

The UN humanitarian coordinator residing in Sudan, Clementine Nkwita, said on June 6, 2024, called for respect for war rules.

“Wars have rules that must be respected, whatever the circumstances. Armed clashes and the use of explosive weapons in densely populated areas must be avoided at all costs,” said Nkwita, adding that civilians can never be targets.

She called for all the possible precautions to protect civilians, in line with international humanitarian law and the Jeddah platform commitments.

UN Children’s Fund executive director Catherine Russell said at least 35  children were killed and injured over 20 others.

The Human Rights High Commission called for an urgent and independent investigation and demanded that those responsible for the unlawful killing be held accountable.

The African Union Commission Chairman, Mr Moussa Faki, condemned the massacre, saying he was concerned with deteriorating conditions in Sudan, which may lead to famine in different parts of the country.

“The international community should put an end to the war,” he said.

In a statement issued on June 6, 2024, the Arab League secretary general, Dr Ahmed Aboul Gheit, conveyed his condolences to the families.

The Egyptian Centre of Al-Ahram and the director of the African Programme at Al-Ahram Centre for Strategic Political Studies, Dr Amani Al-Taweel, said that Wad Al-Noura’s crime will not pass.

“It will have clear repercussions on the internal political equation and even on the positions of countries,” he said.

The US State Department on June 7 condemned the attacks and called for immediate stoppage, demonstrating rapid accountability in targeting those responsible for killing civilians.

The department urged the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF Militia to ensure the protection of civilians and hold their members accountable for war crimes or violations of the Jeddah Declaration.

The Jeddah Declaration calls for the resumption of ceasefire negotiations and the immediate cessation of attacks on civilians throughout Sudan, according to the statement.

Also, the Declaration indicated that no military victory can be achieved in the war, whose casualties are measured by the tragic loss of civilians’ lives, displacement of millions, severe malnutrition, rape, torture, and ethnic cleansing, according to the statement, calling for an immediate end to the obstruction of the delivery of humanitarian aid and return to civilian rule.

The UK foreign secretary, Mr David Cameron, through the X platform called on the Rapid Support Forces to stop attacks and horrifying innocent people in the country.

A US member of the House of Representatives, Ms Sarah Jacobs, said the quickest way to end the war in Sudan and the suffering among the Sudanese people is to campaign for suspended support of TSFs.

The personal envoy to the Secretary-General, Mr Ramatane Lamamra, stressed the need for the continued peace mission, asking for increased support for international mediation.

The official spokesman for the UN Secretary-General and the US State Department condemned RSF rebels.