Doctor assassinated by Sudanese army in Omdurman

January 17, 2024 (OMDURMAN) – A prominent doctor has been assassinated by Sudanese army forces in Omdurman, according to eyewitnesses. The doctor, Dr Abdel Moneim Banga Abdel Hafeez, was accused of working with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Dr Banga’s cousin, Nabil Babikir Abdel Hafeez, told Sudan Tribune that the doctor was caring for his uncle, who has a complex medical condition, as well as his wife and sick brother in the Al-Mawradah neighbourhood. He also regularly went to the Abbasiya neighbourhood to get medical supplies and food.

On the day of his killing, Dr Banga went to Abbasiya to buy medical and nutritional supplies. He was stopped at a checkpoint by a group of army soldiers, who accused him of being an RSF intelligence officer. Despite showing them his doctor’s ID, he was shot dead.

The soldiers who recently regained control of large parts of the city accused him of being a member of the RSF Intelligence.

“Despite his pleas of innocence, stating that he was responsible for caring for his sick uncle and wife, they shot him dead,” said Babikir.

Residents of the neighbourhood witnessed the incident and confirmed that the army had left the doctor’s body behind after shooting him.

Babiker commended the residents of Abbasiya for taking care of the doctor’s body and burying him. He also called for the family to be moved to a safe place as they are now in need of support.

Human rights activists expect similar violations to occur in the future when the army regains control of areas occupied by the RSF.

The most recent clashes between the army and the Rapid Support Forces have taken place in several neighbourhoods of Omdurman since last week.

The ongoing conflict between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces has resulted in the deaths of over 12,000 civilians, thousands of injuries, and the displacement of more than 7 million people.

(ST)