Sudanese FM accuses RSF of massacre in Al-Jazira

The Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a strong accusation on Friday against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), blaming them for the deaths of 120 civilians over a two-day period in Al-Jazira State. 

The ministry claims that these atrocities were committed in the city of Al-Hilaliya, where civilians were subjected to violence, food poisoning, and deprivation of medical care.

In a statement, the ministry referred to the RSF, often linked to the Janjaweed militia, as perpetrators of what it described as a "new massacre."

"The Janjaweed militia has committed a new massacre in the city of Al-Hilaliya, in Al-Jazira State, resulting in 120 martyrs so far. They were killed by gunfire, food poisoning, or due to a lack of medical care for hundreds of besieged civilians," the ministry declared.

The statement underscores the dire humanitarian situation in the area, with civilians caught in the crossfire of a conflict that continues to devastate Sudan.

The RSF, led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, commonly known as "Hemedti," has been engaged in a brutal conflict with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) since April 2023. The fighting, which initially erupted in Khartoum, has spread to several regions, including Darfur and Al-Jazira, creating one of the worst humanitarian crises in Sudan's recent history.

Reports from humanitarian organizations suggest that the situation in Sudan has deteriorated significantly, with millions displaced and hundreds of thousands facing starvation and a lack of basic medical services. 

The siege in Al-Hilaliya, as described by the Sudanese Foreign Ministry, is emblematic of the broader suffering inflicted upon civilians.

The ministry's statement highlighted the methods of the alleged massacre, including poisoning food supplies and obstructing medical aid, tactics that are increasingly being used to terrorize local populations.

The ongoing violence in Sudan has drawn widespread condemnation, with international bodies such as the United Nations and the African Union calling for an immediate ceasefire and unrestricted access for humanitarian aid. However, efforts to broker peace have so far failed, with both the RSF and SAF refusing to concede ground.

The Sudanese government’s accusations against the RSF come as calls for accountability grow louder. Human rights groups have repeatedly documented abuses by both sides in the conflict, urging the international community to take decisive action to prevent further atrocities.