At least 13 civilians killed in RSF attacks in Sudan’s Kordofan states
May 31, 2025 (EL-OBEID) – At least 13 civilians, including a medical worker, were killed on Saturday during attacks launched by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in areas of West and South Kordofan states.
The RSF committed widespread abuses against civilians, including killings, looting, and forced displacement, after gaining control of Al-Dabibat, Al-Hammadi, and Kazgail in South Kordofan, as well as Al-Khawi locality and its surrounding villages in West Kordofan.
Local sources told Sudan Tribune that RSF forces “attacked the Tabaldiya area, north of Al-Dabibat city, firing indiscriminately at civilians, which led to the killing of at least two people and the injury of three others.”
They indicated that the campaign of storming villages in the rural areas of Al-Goz locality included Al-Kureib village, where two people were killed and others injured.
The sources reported that the RSF assassinated medical assistant Abdelbaqi Mohamed Ahmed with a direct shot to the head, while his two sons, Yassin and Mohamed, sustained severe injuries in Al-Hammadi town.
Meanwhile, Dar Hamar Emergency Room stated that RSF forces “executed about 8 citizens of Al-Khawi city.” The statement added that the RSF launched a widespread arrest campaign in Al-Khawi, targeting dozens of young men, before looting homes, the main market, and solar power systems.
The fierce battles in South and West Kordofan have forced thousands of citizens to flee from Al-Dabibat city and its surrounding villages – Al-Hammadi, Kazgail, Umm Shalakhti, Soshai, Al-Abnawiya, Karkariya, Al-Furqan, Hillat al-Mahdi, Umm Darasaya, and Umm Arada – walking towards EL-OBEID city in North Kordofan.
Al-Khawi city and its surrounding villages witnessed high waves of displacement towards Umm Sumaima town and to the capital of North Kordofan, fleeing the RSF’s abuses.
The Sudanese army has sent large military reinforcements to the southern and western axes of EL-OBEID, preparing to resume military confrontations. Meanwhile, RSF forces continue to consolidate their military presence in the areas they recently captured.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing a massive RSF military convoy moving from Abu Zabad city in West Kordofan, after units were gathered from the Fula, Bileila, and Al-Mujlad areas, in addition to another convoy arriving from East Darfur. The convoy was seen heading towards Al-Khawi.
Battles that re-erupted on Thursday between the army and RSF and their allies in West and South Kordofan are expected to continue.