Death toll in RSF attacks on East El Fasher villages rises to 29

January 21, 2025 (EL FASHER) – At least 29 people have been killed and dozens wounded in attacks by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on villages east of El Fasher in North Darfur, according to local authorities.

The RSF launched a two-day offensive on January 18, targeting villages in the Um Kadada locality, including Jebel Hilla and Brosh. The attacks triggered the displacement of thousands of civilians who fled towards the locality’s headquarters, currently under the control of a tribal militia known as “Al-Shawqara”.

Ibrahim Khater, Director General of the Ministry of Health in North Darfur, confirmed the death toll to Sudan Tribune, stating, “The number of fatalities from the RSF attack on Jebel Hilla, east of Um Kadada, has risen to 29.”

Khater accused the RSF, led by commander Ibrahim Al-Tom in this operation, of violating international humanitarian law by targeting civilian areas with no military presence. He characterized the attacks as a “genocide,” alleging the RSF deliberately targeted specific ethnic groups.

The RSF reportedly used more than ten heavily armed vehicles in the assault, dug trenches, and erected dirt barriers to impose a siege on the village.

Khater urgently appealed to international bodies, including the United Nations, the UN Security Council, the International Criminal Court, and the Human Rights Council, for immediate intervention to protect civilians, hold perpetrators accountable, and prevent impunity.

These attacks are the latest escalation in the ongoing conflict between the RSF and the Sudanese army, along with its allied armed movements, which have been raging in and around El Fasher.