Sudan officials say RSF looted 17,000 plant gene strains

July 8, 2025 (WAD MADANI) – Sudanese officials on Tuesday accused the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of looting more than 17,000 types of plant genetic strains from a key national research centre in central Al Jazira state.

The acting director of the Agricultural Research Corporation (ARC), Ahmed Hassan Abu Asara, stated in a press release that RSF fighters had stolen 33 refrigerators from the corporation’s gene bank, which contained a vast collection. He explained that these refrigerated units are essential for preserving the genetic strains safely.

The RSF destroyed infrastructure and was widely accused of looting and committing abuses against civilians after seizing control of Al Jazira state in late 2023. The Sudanese army recaptured the agricultural hub earlier this year.

In response to the damage, Gezira’s governor, al-Tahir Ibrahim al-Khair, has pledged to install a new cold room for the gene bank. The governor’s pledge came during a meeting with the ARC and the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

The FAO’s representative in Sudan, Adam Yao, said the U.N. agency was assessing the situation for a “phased intervention” and noted that donor funds could help rebuild the facility.

The incident was part of a broader pattern of destruction in the state. The director of trade in Al Jazira, Mustafa al-Sheikh, said the RSF also looted, destroyed, or burned 20 warehouses containing goods belonging to the finance ministry, companies, and individuals, with an estimated value of over $20 million.

Authorities in Al Jazira are now attempting to rebuild service facilities destroyed during the RSF’s occupation, despite scarce resources and the continuation of the conflict in other parts of Sudan.