Sudan Army Chief Orders Investigation into Alleged Violence
In Gezira District
Sudan’s army chief, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has
launched an investigation into allegations of violence by his forces after
retaking the Gezira state capital, Wad Madani, from the Relief Forces (RSF).
These allegations include widespread civilian deaths, raising international
concern.
The ongoing conflict between the Sudanese army and the RSF,
which erupted in April 2023, has devastated the country. Wad Madani, a key town
140 kilometers south of Khartoum, fell under RSF control nearly a year ago. The
recent military recapture has brought attention to alleged human rights abuses.
According to reports from Sudanese human rights groups, at
least 13 civilians were killed in Camp Taiba, a village 20 kilometers from Wad
Madani. South Sudan expressed outrage over the reported deaths of its citizens,
and summoned the Sudanese ambassador to address the issue. Meanwhile, the
United Nations humanitarian coordinator in Sudan, Clementine Nkweta-Salami,
expressed concern over attacks on civilians based on their alleged ethnicity.
In response, General Burhan announced the formation of a
committee to investigate the alleged killings in Taiba Camp, with findings
expected within a week. But his statement made no mention of concerns raised by
South Sudan or broader allegations of violence elsewhere in Gezira.
Social media videos have added to the scrutiny. A widely
distributed video showed a man in civilian clothes throwing himself from the
Hantoub bridge into the Blue Nile before being shot. The video was confirmed to
be authentic, and the perpetrators were linked to a paramilitary group. Other
videos showed the bodies of more than 30 men in civilian clothes, lying near a
wall in northwestern Wad Madani. The circumstances of their deaths remain
unclear.
The Sudanese military acknowledged isolated violations in
the Gezira region, vowing to hold perpetrators accountable. Meanwhile, truce
plagued both sides throughout the 20-month conflict. The RSF also faced
accusations of retaliatory attacks in Gezira, particularly after the departure
of one of its commanders, Abu Aqla Kaikal, in October. Kaikal played a key role
in the army’s efforts to recapture Wad Madani.
As investigations continue, the conflict continues to take a
heavy toll on civilians, raising urgent questions about accountability and
justice in Sudan.
