Renewed Omdurman clashes leave civilians dead; RSF accused of abuses

April 6, 2025 (OMDURMAN) – At least 15 civilians were killed, including three emergency responders, amid fierce clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in western Omdurman, activists reported on Sunday.

The fighting comes as the SAF has, for about three days, renewed operations to capture remaining RSF strongholds in the Umbada locality (west Omdurman) and the Al-Salha area (south Omdurman). The push follows recent reports claiming the army secured full control over the neighbouring localities of Khartoum, Bahri, and East Nile.

A statement from the Umbada Emergency Room, a local volunteer group, said that more than 15 people had been killed in the locality due to the ongoing clashes between the SAF and RSF.

The statement specified that three victims were volunteer members of emergency response teams operating in the Al-Salam, Dar al-Arqam, and Al-Buq’a neighbourhoods. It described conditions for residents in three administrative units – Salam North, Central Al-Buq’a, and West Al-Amir – as “tragic” due to the intensity of the fighting.

Separately, local sources informed Sudan Tribune of alleged widespread violations by RSF fighters against residents in the Hara 17 Abu Zeid area, south of the Libya Market. The reported abuses included killings and looting.

The sources claimed RSF forces ordered residents to evacuate their homes immediately and had occupied several tall buildings, including mosques, establishing sniper positions.

Furthermore, the RSF allegedly carried out extensive arrests targeting dozens of civilians in neighbourhoods 1, 2, and 7 of the Dar es Salaam area, according to a volunteer with the West Al-Salam Emergency Room who spoke to Sudan Tribune. Those detained were reportedly transported to the Fattasha camp, located in the far west of Omdurman.

The volunteer sources also reported that since March 27, RSF forces have restricted civilian movement in western Omdurman, preventing residents from fleeing northwards towards the SAF-controlled Karari locality. RSF fighters are also accused of confiscating public vehicles and donkey carts (‘karo’) to hinder departures from areas under their control.