Sudanese Pro-Army Militia Accused of War Crimes in Civilian Attacks

A militia allied with the Sudanese Armed Forces has been accused of war crimes after a January attack killed 26 civilians. Human Rights Watch highlights that the Sudan Shield Forces targeted civilians, looted property, and set homes on fire. The ongoing conflict in Sudan has displaced millions and prompted accusations of human rights abuses from both sides involved in the fighting.

A militia aligned with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) has been accused of committing war crimes following a January attack on a village that resulted in the deaths of at least 26 civilians, including one child. Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported that the Sudan Shield Forces, supporting the SAF in their conflict against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), intentionally targeted the village on January 10.

According to HRW, the militia systematically looted properties, including food supplies, and set homes ablaze. The attacks primarily affected civilians in the al-Jazira state, particularly those suspected of supporting the RSF. Tayba village, where the assault occurred, is located 30 kilometers east of Wad Madani and is mainly populated by the Tama, Bergo, and Mararit ethnic groups.

Eyewitness accounts indicate that members of the Sudan Shield Forces, formed from Arab communities in al-Jazira state in 2022, employed racial slurs during the assault. Witnesses reported extensive looting of assets, with losses including 2,000 livestock. HRW’s senior researcher, Jean-Baptiste Gallopin, emphasized the urgent need for Sudanese authorities to conduct thorough investigations into the reported abuses, holding accountable those responsible, including militia commanders.

Since April 2023, conflict has ravaged Sudan, displacing millions and prompting accusations of war crimes from both sides. The ongoing violence has uprooted over 10 million people, leaving more than 12 million facing severe food insecurity and resulting in thousands of fatalities. The RSF, supported by the UAE and accused of genocide by the United States, maintains control over significant portions of Darfur and Kordofan.

Recently, the RSF executed a three-day offensive in White Nile state, resulting in the deaths of 433 individuals. Sudan’s foreign ministry condemned the incident as “the worst atrocity” perpetrated by the RSF since earlier genocidal acts in Geneina and Ardamita in 2023. The ministry denounced the assault as a war against all Sudanese citizens.

Emergency Lawyers, a monitoring group, reported that RSF violence targeted unarmed civilians, including women and children in several rural villages. There were allegations of field executions, kidnappings, enforced disappearances, and property looting, culminating in a death toll of approximately 200 individuals.

In summary, the Sudan Shield Forces, aligned with the Sudanese Armed Forces, face grave accusations of war crimes following their attack on civilians in al-Jazira state. Human Rights Watch calls for urgent investigations into these abuses, highlighting the ongoing humanitarian crisis amid the escalating conflict in Sudan that has resulted in widespread displacement and severe food insecurity. The international community’s attention is critical to halt these violations against innocent civilians.

Original Source: www.middleeasteye.net