Latest news with #SudanShieldForces
Khaberni
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Khaberni
Sudanese Army Takes Control of Dabibat with an Ultimatum for Rapid Support to Exit Al Fasher
Khaberni - Tell me - The spokesperson for the Sudanese Army announced that its forces have tightened control over the city of Dabibat in South Kordofan, western part of the country, after battles with Rapid Support Forces. The joint forces allied with the army confirmed that they inflicted heavy losses on the Rapid Support Forces in the city of Dabibat, in both lives and equipment. The statement pointed out that the retaking of Dabibat represents an important step in securing the Kordofan region (3 states) and advancing towards the Darfur region (5 states). Elements of the Sudanese Army posted video clips on social media platforms, announcing their entry into Dabibat and the defeat of the Rapid Support Forces. Dabibat, located 186 kilometers from Kadugli, the state capital, is a strategic city as it connects South Kordofan to North Kordofan and East Darfur states. The control over Dabibat also paves the way to lift the siege on Delanj, which is 60 kilometers away, and is the second-largest city in South Kordofan in terms of area. In the meantime, Abu Aaqla Kaikl, the commander of the Sudan Shield Forces fighting alongside the Sudanese Army, gave the Rapid Support Forces 48 hours to leave the city of Al Fasher, the capital of North Darfur State. Kaikl added in a speech to a group of his fighters that the Sudan Shield Forces and all formations of the Sudanese Army would head to Al Fasher to break the siege on it. Direct confrontation On the other hand, Abdul Rahim Dagalo, the deputy commander of the Rapid Support Forces, said that his forces managed to neutralize the warplanes belonging to the Sudanese Army, including drones. Dagalo added, addressing some Rapid Support soldiers, that "the war is now fully engaged" in all its details, and emphasized that the Rapid Support Forces are ready to perform their military duties, armed with various types of weapons. These developments come days after the Sudanese authorities announced full control over the states of Khartoum and White Nile, and their clearance from Rapid Support Forces, without comment from the latter. Over the past few weeks and at an accelerated pace, the areas controlled by the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan's states have begun to decrease in favor of the army, with its victories extending to include Khartoum and White Nile State. In the other 16 states, the Rapid Support Forces now only control parts of North and West Kordofan and pockets in the states of South Kordofan and Blue Nile, along with 4 of the five states of the Darfur region. Since mid-April 2023, the army and "Rapid Support" have waged a war that has left more than 20,000 dead and about 15 million displaced and refugees, according to the United Nations and local authorities, while a study by American universities estimated the number of deaths at about 130,000.
Jordan Times
25-02-2025
- Politics
- Jordan Times
HRW accuses army-aligned force of attack on central Sudan village
Sudanese soldiers at the entrance to the town of Tabit, North Darfur (AFP photo) PORT SUDAN, SUDAN — Human Rights Watch accused a Sudanese army-aligned force on Tuesday of an attack on a village in the centre of the war-torn country that left at least 26 people a statement, the rights monitor said the Sudan Shield Forces "intentionally targeted civilians in a January 10 attack" on the village of Tayba in Al-Jazira state, where fighting between the army and its rival the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces [RSF] has intensified in recent is located 30 kilometres east of state capital Wad Madani, which the army recaptured from the RSF last month after more than a year of paramilitary attack, Human Rights Watch [HRW] said, left at least 26 civilians dead, one of them a child, and saw the systematic looting of property, including food supplies, as well as the burning of houses."These acts constitute war crimes and some, such as the deliberate killings of civilians, may also constitute potential crimes against humanity," it Sudan Shield Forces are led by Abu Aqla Kaykal, who defected from the RSF last year and has been accused of atrocities against civilians both during his tenure with the paramilitaries and now on the army's April 2023, the conflict in Sudan has pitted army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan against his former deputy, RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan war has claimed tens of thousands of lives, uprooted more than 12 million people and triggered the world's largest displacement and hunger crisis. 'You slave'Both the army and the RSF have been accused of grave atrocities against civilians, with their leaders sanctioned by the United investigation, based on survivor testimonies, satellite imagery, and verified videos and photos, documented widespread destruction and extrajudicial said that the communities in Tayba were targeted twice on January whose residents identified Kaykal's fighters as members of Sudan's ethnic Arab majority, is home to communities of non-Arab ethnic groups originally from western Sudan called survivors reported hearing racial slurs shouted during the attack, such as "You slave!"."'Do you not know who Kaykal's troops are? Do you not know who we are?'" one woman recalled the fighters saying."The Sudanese authorities should urgently investigate all reported abuses and hold to account those responsible, including the commanders of the Sudan Shield Forces," said Jean-Baptiste Gallopin, senior crisis, conflict and arms researcher at a statement after the attack, the army denied any involvement, attributing it to "individual violations" and pledged to hold perpetrators accountable. Though the RSF has become notorious for alleged ethnicity-based violence, leading the US last month to accuse it of genocide, reports have also emerged of civilians being targeted on the basis of ethnicity in army-controlled areas.
Middle East Eye
25-02-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Sudanese pro-army militia accused of 'war crimes' after targeting civilians
A militia allied with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) has been accused of war crimes in Sudan after an attack on a village in January that left at least 26 civilians dead, including one child. Human Rights Watch (HRW) said the Sudan Shield Forces, which supports the SAF in its fight against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), "intentionally" targeted the village of Tayba on 10 January. The New York-based rights group said the militia also systematically looted civilian property, including food supplies, and set fire to houses. The Sudan Shield Forces, along with other allied militias, attacked civilians in al-Jazira state who they perceived to be aligned with the RSF. Tayba is 30km east of al-Jazira's capital, Wad Madani, and home to people primarily from the Tama, Bergo and Mararit ethnic groups. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Eyewitnesses told HRW that members of the Sudan Shield Forces, formed in 2022 mainly from Arab communities of al-Jazira state, hurled racist abuse at locals while attacking the village. They described widespread "looting of money, food, and livestock, including 2,000 cattle". "Armed groups fighting alongside the Sudanese Armed Forces have carried out violent abuses against civilians in their latest offensive in Gezira state," said Jean-Baptiste Gallopin, senior crisis, conflict and arms researcher at HRW. "The Sudanese authorities should urgently investigate all reported abuses and hold to account those responsible, including the commanders of the Sudan Shield Forces." Sudan's RSF massacres 433 people as it forms parallel 'peace government' Read More » War has raged in Sudan since April 2023, with millions displaced and both sides accused of war crimes and human rights abuses. The conflict has displaced more than 10 million people, and left over 12 million facing high levels of acute food insecurity. Thousands are estimated to have been killed. The RSF, which is backed by the UAE and has been accused of committing genocide by the US and human rights groups, controls most of Darfur and parts of Khartoum and the region of Kordofan. Last week it launched a brutal three-day attack, killing 433 people in White Nile state, as its leaders arrived in Kenya to announce a parallel "peace and unity" government. Sudan's foreign ministry said infants were among those killed in White Nile in what it describes as "the worst atrocity" committed by the RSF since "the genocide in Geneina and Ardamita" in August and November 2023. "This horrific massacre confirms that the militia's war is actually against the entire Sudanese people," the ministry added. Emergency Lawyers, a group of lawyers who monitor the war in Sudan, said the RSF attacked unarmed civilians, including women and children, in al-Kadaris and al-Khalwat, villages in rural parts of el-Geteina in White Nile state. It said that the paramilitary group carried out field executions, kidnappings, enforced disappearances and looting of property, putting the death toll at 200.
Al Jazeera
25-02-2025
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Sudan army allies intentionally targeting civilians: HRW
Armed groups fighting alongside the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have been intentionally targeting civilians, an international NGO on human rights says. In a report released on Tuesday, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said forces aligned with the military government have attacked villagers in central Sudan and committed acts that may amount to war crimes, and urged an investigation. International human rights organisations have repeatedly accused SAF's opponent, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), of carrying out ethnic cleansing and even genocide during 20 months of vicious civil war. But reports of abuses by the army have also been common. In the report, HRW said SAF-aligned groups, including the Sudan Shield Forces, the al-Baraa Ibn Malik battalion and local militias, may also be committing war crimes. 'Armed groups fighting alongside the Sudanese Armed Forces have carried out violent abuses against civilians in their latest offensive in Gezira state,' Jean-Baptiste Gallopin, senior crisis, conflict and arms researcher at HRW, said. The HRW report documented that in an attack on January 10, the Sudan Shield Forces attacked the village of Tayba, in the Gezira state, killing at least 26 people, including a child, and injuring others. Witnesses said armed fighters who spoke of their chief as Abu Aqla Keikel, leader of the Sudan Shield Forces, shot indiscriminately at residents and went from house to house looking for men and boys to execute. They were also reported to have looted the village and set buildings on fire. The survivors' accounts were corroborated by satellite imagery, photographs and videos verified by HRW, which said the incident was one among several attacks against communities perceived to be RSF supporters in the region after the army recaptured them from the paramilitary group last month. The SAF has condemned the abuse and pledged to hold the perpetrators accountable. However, it insisted that the actions were 'individual transgressions'. Tayba residents said government investigators had visited the site and interviewed key witnesses, and added that the Joint Force of the Armed Movements, an SAF-aligned coalition, had deployed forces to protect the population. However, HRW noted that SAF generals, including General Yasir al-Atta, who sits on Sudan's ruling Sovereign Council, have publicly appeared with Keikel since January 10, and praised his contribution to the war effort. Gallopin said the Sudanese authorities should urgently investigate all reported abuses and hold to account those responsible, including the commanders of the Sudan Shield Forces.
Asharq Al-Awsat
25-02-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
HRW Accuses Army-aligned Force Of Attack On Central Sudan Village
Human Rights Watch accused a Sudanese army-aligned force on Tuesday of an attack on a village in the center of the war-torn country that left at least 26 people dead. In a statement, the rights monitor said the Sudan Shield Forces "intentionally targeted civilians in a January 10 attack" on the village of Tayba in Al-Jazira state, where fighting between the army and its rival the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has intensified in recent weeks. Tayba is located 30 kilometres (12 miles) east of state capital Wad Madani, which the army recaptured from the RSF last month. The attack, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said, left at least 26 civilians dead, one of them a child, and saw the systematic looting of property, including food supplies, as well as the burning of houses, AFP reported. "These acts constitute war crimes and some, such as the deliberate killings of civilians, may also constitute potential crimes against humanity," it added. The Sudan Shield Forces are led by Abu Aqla Kaykal, who defected from the RSF last year and has been accused of atrocities against civilians both during his tenure with RSF and now on the army's side. Since April 2023, the conflict in Sudan has pitted army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan against his former deputy, RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Daglo. The war has claimed tens of thousands of lives, uprooted more than 12 million people and triggered the world's largest displacement and hunger crisis. Both the army and the RSF have been accused of grave atrocities against civilians, with their leaders sanctioned by the United States. HRW's investigation, based on survivor testimonies, satellite imagery, and verified videos and photos, documented widespread destruction and extrajudicial killings. It said that the communities in Tayba were targeted twice on January 10. "The Sudanese authorities should urgently investigate all reported abuses and hold to account those responsible, including the commanders of the Sudan Shield Forces," said Jean-Baptiste Gallopin, senior crisis, conflict and arms researcher at HRW. In a statement after the attack, the army denied any involvement, attributing it to "individual violations" and pledged to hold perpetrators accountable.
