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UN chief Guterres condemns RSF paramilitary attack in Sudan that killed more than 100

A damaged army tank is seen on the street, almost one year into the war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), in Omdurman, Sudan, April 7, 2024. (Photo: El Tayeb Siddig/Reuters)

By Mwangi Maina | Friday, June 7, 2024

Sudan has been grappling with a war between the army led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the paramilitary RSF forces led by his former deputy, General Mohamed Hamdan Daglo.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has strongly condemned the paramilitary attack on the village of Wad al-Noura in Sudan, which reportedly resulted in the deaths of over 100 people.

The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) allegedly attacked with heavy artillery, according to the pro-democracy group Madani Resistance Committee.

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It was reported on Wednesday that the feared paramilitaries had "invaded the village," resulting in dozens of casualties and widespread displacement.

The attack "claimed the lives of more than 104 martyrs" and "injured hundreds," stated the committee, one of numerous grassroots groups across Sudan.

The toll was determined through "initial communication with village residents."

"The Secretary-General strongly condemns the attack reportedly carried out on 5 June by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the Wad Al-Noura village, Jazira state, which is said to have killed over 100 people," said his spokesman Stephane Dujarric in a statement, urging all parties involved in the Sudanese conflict to refrain from actions that harm civilians.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks to members of the Security Council at U.N. headquarters in New York City, New York, U.S., April 18, 2024. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz/File Photo

Sudan has been grappling with a war between the army led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the paramilitary RSF forces led by his former deputy, General Mohamed Hamdan Daglo.

"The Secretary-General expresses his deep concern regarding the immense suffering of the Sudanese population as a result of the continued hostilities," Dujarric emphasised, adding, "He stresses that it is high time for all parties to silence their guns across Sudan and commit to a path towards sustainable peace for the Sudanese people."

The UN resident coordinator for Sudan, Clementine Nkweta-Salami, expressed shock at the reports of violent attacks and the high number of casualties in the village.

She urged for an investigation and for those responsible to be held accountable. "Human tragedy has become a hallmark of life in Sudan. We cannot allow impunity to become another one," she emphasised.

Throughout Sudan, 70 per cent of those displaced are now struggling to survive in areas at risk of famine, according to reports. The UN indicates that 18 million people in Sudan are facing acute hunger, with 3.6 million children suffering from acute malnutrition.

The country has been plagued by widespread hunger for months, yet a lack of data has hindered the official declaration of famine by aid agencies.

Recent estimates by the Clingendael Institute, a Dutch think tank, suggest that if the current humanitarian situation persists, 2.5 million people could perish from hunger by the end of September.

This figure represents about 15 per cent of the population in Darfur and Kordofan, the vast western and southern regions of the country that have experienced some of the most intense fighting, as noted by the institute.

The UN has accused both sides of systematic obstructions and deliberate denials of humanitarian access, exacerbating the dire situation.