RSF North Kordofan: Civilian Killings Condemned by Kordofan Observatory

• Four civilians, including a child, were killed by gunfire from a force reportedly affiliated with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Tayba Oulad Balouh village, North Kordofan.
• The incident involved an RSF force entering a home, demanding property, and opening fire after refusal, leading to multiple deaths.
• The Kordofan Observatory condemned the killings as a serious violation of international humanitarian law and called for immediate investigation and accountability.
• This event occurred as the Sudanese army and allied forces entered El Mazroub, a town the army claimed control of earlier this month after the RSF's withdrawal.
• The Observatory urged all conflict parties to respect civilians and their property and to ensure the security of residents in the area.

The Kordofan Observatory has unequivocally condemned these actions, asserting that the killing of civilians in their homes, coupled with raids and attempts to seize property at gunpoint, constitutes a grave breach of international humanitarian law designed to safeguard non-combatants from attack.

Four non-combatants, including a child, tragically lost their lives due to gunfire from a military contingent that the Kordofan Observatory identifies as affiliated with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The fatal incident transpired in Tayba Oulad Balouh village, situated to the west of El Mazroub in North Kordofan. This grave event, which adds to the growing body of evidence regarding alleged International Humanitarian Law violations by the RSF, was brought to light through a statement from the Kordofan Observatory, obtained by Radio Dabanga.

The victims of this violent encounter have been identified as Abd El Baqi Suleiman Hassan, Ahmed El Jaili Balouh, El Amin Habib Nasir, and an unnamed child. The Kordofan Observatory has unequivocally condemned these actions, asserting that the killing of civilians in their homes, coupled with raids and attempts to seize property at gunpoint, constitutes a grave breach of international humanitarian law designed to safeguard non-combatants from attack.

According to information gathered by the Kordofan Observatory, the sequence of events began around 11:30 PM on a Tuesday. An armed contingent, utilizing a Land Cruiser, forcibly entered the residence of Abd El Baqi Suleiman Hassan. The force proceeded to demand the keys to his vehicle and his room, with the apparent intention of confiscating money and other valuables.

When Mr. Hassan refused to comply with these demands, the RSF-affiliated force opened fire, resulting in his immediate death. Subsequently, Ahmed El Jaili Balouh was also killed after he arrived at the scene, having been drawn by the sound of gunfire. Before the force withdrew from the area, El Amin Habib Nasir and a child were also fatally shot. Local accounts cited by the Observatory indicate that Ahmed El Jaili Balouh had previously been the target of attempted robberies.

This tragic incident in Tayba Oulad Balouh occurred concurrently with significant military movements in the region. The Sudanese army and its allied joint forces had recently entered El Mazroub, a town that the army announced it had brought under its control earlier this month, following the withdrawal of the Rapid Support Forces. The timing underscores the volatile and dangerous environment for civilians amidst the ongoing Sudan conflict.

The Kordofan Observatory explicitly categorizes the killing of civilians within their residences, alongside armed raids and attempts to seize property, as a serious violation of international humanitarian law protecting civilians from attack. Legal professionals should monitor such reports for potential accountability efforts and to advise clients on escalating human rights risks in Sudan, particularly concerning Rapid Support Forces atrocities. These Tayba Oulad Balouh civilian deaths contribute to a concerning pattern of alleged war crimes in the region.

In response to the RSF North Kordofan civilian killings, the Kordofan Observatory has issued an urgent appeal for thorough documentation and investigation of the incident. The organization insists that those directly involved in the operation, as well as those who issued the orders, must be held accountable for their actions.

Furthermore, the Kordofan Observatory report calls upon all parties engaged in the conflict to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law. This includes respecting civilians and their property, refraining from raiding and looting homes, and actively working to prevent residents from being exposed to further killing and violence. The Observatory specifically demands that the security of residents in El Mazroub and its surrounding villages be guaranteed, and that civilians receive protection amidst the continuing military and security tensions in the area.

This incident adds to the growing body of evidence regarding alleged International Humanitarian Law violations by the RSF. Legal professionals should monitor such reports for potential accountability efforts and to advise clients on escalating human rights risks in Sudan.

Source: Original reporting via Radio Dabanga and Kordofan Observatory.