Khartoum North neighbourhoods rally against RSF’ violations
July 3, 2023 (KHARTOUM) – Increasing calls for protection against violations committed by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have resonated among neighbourhoods in Khartoum North, located north of the Sudanese capital.
On Monday, the Hadrab Mosque in the Shambat suburb utilized its loudspeakers to urge the area’s youth to mobilise to defend their neighbourhood against aggression and violations by the RSF.
According to the Shambat Emergency Committee, RSF members attempted to kidnap a girl from her home and held young children at gunpoint in the early hours of Monday.
These emergency committees are part of the resistance committees that have been actively countering military rule in recent months.
In response to ongoing violations, the committee called on local youth to be prepared to safeguard their dignity and property.
The clashes between the army and the RSF, which erupted in mid-April, have escalated in Khartoum, particularly after the failure of US-Saudi efforts to cease the fighting.
On Sunday, the RSF elements kidnapped two girls from the Halfaya neighbourhood, north of Khartoum North, before returning them following significant protests and calls to mobilise against the paramilitary forces by residents.
The civilians of Halfaya formed a committee to engage with RSF leaders and apprise them of the violations, encroachments, and intimidation committed by their personnel.
A committee member informed Sudan Tribune, “The residents decided to stand more resolutely against the violations by activating mosque minarets and loudspeakers to inform and alert the residents in case of emergencies.”
Additionally, they decided to close all internal streets within residential neighbourhoods, except for two main roads, to facilitate movement and services.
The capital’s Resistance Committees have established emergency rooms in residential neighbourhoods to monitor violations against civilians and provide relief and medical services amid the disruption of state institutions and most hospitals.
The RSF faces accusations of grave violations, including murder, enforced disappearance, torture, sexual violence, forced displacement, and control over civilian facilities.
(ST)