Sudan’s warring sides trade blame over deadly strike on tribal leader
October 17, 2025 (PORT SUDAN) – Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on Friday traded accusations over a drone strike that killed a prominent tribal leader and at least 16 other people at a community meeting in North Kordofan state.
The slain leader was identified as Nazir Suleiman Jaber Juma’a Sahl of the Majaneen tribe. His son and several family members were among those killed in the attack, which took place in the RSF-controlled Al-Mazroub area. At least five others were severely injured.
In a statement, the army-led Transitional Sovereign Council in Port Sudan mourned the Nazir and accused the RSF of launching a “treacherous and blatant attack” during a reconciliation meeting. It praised the slain leader as a “sincere patriot who contributed to promoting community peace.”
Conversely, the RSF-aligned ‘Tasis’ administration, a parallel government based in Nyala, condemned the strike as a “dangerous escalation by the army” for targeting a civilian gathering. The group blamed the army for the attack, which it said adds to its record of violations.
Activists from the Majaneen tribe also held the RSF responsible, stating that the Nazir had recently demanded that RSF fighters leave the area following an increase in abuses against civilians.
The incident highlights the escalating violence in the Kordofan region, a key front in the country’s civil war. The army has been planning to use the region as a launchpad to advance towards Darfur, while the RSF has reinforced its positions to block any such move.
The Civilian Democratic Alliance of Revolutionary Forces (Samoud) condemned the killing, accusing the army but also criticising both warring parties.
“Exploiting what happens to civilians to direct condemnations… has become the usual scene, as if condemning the actions of the other party seems more important than adhering to international humanitarian law,” the alliance stated. It called on both sides to accept a humanitarian truce.