Sudan Paramilitaries Launch Deadly Village Raids

North Kordofan Attack Claims 18 Civilian Lives

Violent assaults in Sudan’s North Kordofan state have resulted in the deaths of 18 civilians, according to a human rights monitor. The attacks, which occurred earlier this week, highlight the ongoing brutal conflict impacting civilian populations.

Deadly Assault in Key Region

Paramilitary forces targeted two villages in North Kordofan, a state crucial for the Rapid Support Forces’ (RSF) smuggling routes from Libya. The region has been a focal point of intense fighting between the army and RSF, with communication lines frequently disrupted.

The Emergency Lawyers group, documenting abuses throughout the two-year war, reported that the raids killed 18 people and left many others injured. Those wounded were transported to the state capital, El-Obeid, for medical attention.

Information Scarcity Amidst Conflict

Independently verifying casualty figures in Sudan remains exceedingly difficult. Many medical facilities are non-operational, and access for journalists is severely limited, compounding the challenge of documenting the full impact of the violence.

Since losing control of Khartoum in March, the RSF has intensified operations in western Sudan, where they maintain significant influence in the Darfur region. The conflict has devastated the country, leading to widespread displacement and severe hunger crises, according to the United Nations.

The UN estimates that over 8 million people have been displaced by the conflict, creating the world’s largest displacement crisis. This figure underscores the scale of the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Sudan (OCHA, 2024).

Broader Impact of the War

Both the Sudanese army and the RSF have faced accusations of committing war crimes during the ongoing hostilities. The conflict has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and created devastating humanitarian consequences, including widespread hunger and displacement.