Bodies Discovered in Sudan Well Reveal Human Rights Abuses After Conflict
Red Crescent volunteers discovered bodies in a well in Sharg Elnil, Sudan, following the area’s recapture from the RSF. Most victims had gunshot wounds, with signs of some being alive when disposed. Local residents reported intimidation from RSF armed men prevented them from initially burying the deceased. As the conflict progresses, evidence of human rights abuses surfaces, with both sides accused of misconduct.
In Sharg Elnil, Sudan, Red Crescent volunteers removed bodies from a well in an area recently retaken from paramilitary control. The operation revealed 15 victims, most of whom had gunshot wounds to the head, with indications that some were thrown into the well alive, according to Hisham Zain al-Abdin, the director of forensic medicine for Khartoum state. Other deceased individuals were found abandoned along roadsides or concealed in basements, some even bound.
As Sudan’s civil conflict nears two years, government forces have made significant advancements into territory previously dominated by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which severed ties with military authorities in April 2023. The authorities are uncovering extensive evidence of brutal killings in RSF-controlled regions. The RSF declined to comment on these allegations but has historically rejected claims of systemic abuses while alleging that the military has committed atrocities of its own.
Hussein al-Faki, a local resident, disclosed that he initially alerted authorities about the bodies. He mentioned that while locals attempted to bury the victims, armed individuals from the RSF warned them to avoid the site. “If you got closer, they would shoot you. They scared us, so we ran away and left them,” he recounted. The pervasive fear during RSF occupation prevented community action to address the situation.
Detailed investigations continue as the region grapples with ongoing violence, and both sides of the conflict trade blame regarding human rights violations, underscoring the dire humanitarian situation in Sudan.
The discovery of multiple bodies in a well in Sharg Elnil highlights the ongoing violence and humanitarian crisis in Sudan, particularly in areas recently retaken from paramilitary groups. Evidence suggests grave human rights abuses, including killings and injuries inflicted upon victims before death. As the conflict continues, both government forces and the RSF remain at odds, complicating efforts for accountability and justice.
Original Source: www.usnews.com
