Sudan: Security situation deteriorates in Kordofan region amidst a surge of armed conflict across Sudan.

(24 June, 2023) African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) expresses deep concern over the targeted attacks on civilians by the paramilitary Rapid Support forces (RSF). ACJPS calls upon the RSF to desists from such attacks on civilians and respect citizens’ right to life and property. In this release, ACJPS documents incidents of conflict in Kordofan region between 15^th April, 2023 to June 2023.

Kordofan region is located between Khartoum State and Darfur region. RSF troops are using Kordofan as a route from Darfur to Khartoum since the outbreak of the armed conflict on 15^th April 2023. West Kordofan State is occupied by the Messeria tribe. Since the outbreak of the conflict, there have been interventions by three leaders from Messeria native administration to maintain peace in Kordofan. The leaders released statements stating that they are neutral and are not supporting either SAF or RSF. This benefited West Kordofan as the situation has remained fairly calm with a few incidents of conflict between RSF and SAF.

Since the outbreak of armed conflict on 15^th April, 2023, a big number of people fled from Khartoum to Kordofan as the area is fairly safe.

Although there have been few incidents of conflict between RSF and SAF in Kordofan, the region has also witnessed several violations perpetuated by RSF as detailed below;

Situation in Kordofan Region

 South Kordofan State is under the control of Sudanese authorities who are operating from Kadogli, the capital and other areas are controlled by Sudanese People’s Liberation Movement /North (SPLM/N) under the command of Gen. Abdul Aziz Adam Al Hilu who have been operating from Kauda as their capital and military base as well since 2011. On 26^th May, 2023, SPLM/N took over Abu Al Hassan and Alzalataia which are SAF’s small military bases in South Kordofan. On 8^th June, 2023, SPLM/N took over Dalko, a SAF military base located in South Eastern Kadogli. Reasons for the takeover are unknown however, SPLM/N released a statement confirming incidents where two SPLM/N affiliates were killed in the said areas by SAF officers during the weekly market days. A reliable source informed ACJPS that the takeover by SPLM/N was a strategy to give them an advantage in case of an attack by either SAF or RSF.

RSF recruited locals from the areas of Abu Karshula in North Kordofan bordering South Kordofan. However, the relationship between the residents of Abu Karshula and SPLM/N have been rocky since the 2014 attack in Khartoum by Sudan Revolution Front Alliance (SRFA), an alliance of SPLM/N and several rebels from Darfur. The alliance was established shortly after a conference that was held at SPLM/N main base in Kauda.

North Kordofan is significantly important to both conflicting parties. To SAF, having control of North Kordofan means that they can protect Khartoum whereas for RSF it means having control of more territories and thus can continue fighting for Khartoum. Additionally, the main high way linking Khartoum and Darfur States passes through Alobid town, the capital of North Kordofan State thus making the state very important as it can be used to transport food and military supplies.

ACJPS recently reported about the conflict between RSF and SAF in Alobid where RSF took control of the airport, fuel stations and oil supplies being transported to Khartoum. There have since been several other incidents of conflicts between SAF and RSF which resulted into SAF taking full control of the town whilst RSF has been deployed around Alobid from the in East, South and North parts since the second week of May 2023. This greatly affected the humanitarian situation and the general living situation of the residents for 13 days as there was no fuel supply into the town. On 13^th July, 2023, there was an initiative by Nedieria, Messeria and Hawazmah tribal leaders from North, West and South Kordofan who struck a deal with RSF to forge a secure way forward for not only Alobid but other towns in West and South Kordofan for easy supply of food and fuel. This deal yielded fruit as power was restored in Alobid and other towns.  A day after the deal was signed, SAF attacked RSF bases in Alobid and this destabilized the situation in Alobid.

Alrahad, North Kordofan

 Alrahad is located in the West side of Alobid and it is a center for trade with a big agricultural market fed by farmers from Alrahad and others from South Kordofan. The RSF has a base in Abu Karshula located in the South of Rahad. The area witnessed a number of incidents of violations by RSF when a group of RSF members from another base in Ardiba arrived in Abu Karshula and destroyed several public and private buildings including the Court, Local Council, Police Station, Northern part of the market, children and women organizations office, Islamic Zakatte office and National Security building. They also arrested two Policemen.  A reliable source informed ACJPS that most of the RSF members who participated in the attack were from Abu Karshula because they knew the ins and outs of the town. The source added that it seems there was a personal motive behind the attack. The group threatened Mr. Al-Rasheed Abakar, a businessman who owns Almethag fuel stations and robbed him of a huge sum of money and forcefully fueled their vehicles from the fuel stations. The security of the town has deteriorated as cases of robberies, theft and looting increased. Highway robberies became rampant on the main road linking Abu Karshula to Alrahad. The native administration and a youth group held a meeting on 16^th May, 2023 and organized themselves to patrol neighborhoods in the town during the night. On 17^th May, 2023, three thieves were killed in the town by the patrol group.

On 16^th May, 2023, RSF in 40 vehicles arrived in the town and converged in Alzhara square where they announced that they were in the town for a peacekeeping mission but they were rejected by the residents. The situation escalated and resulted into the killing of a male citizen. They then proceeded to his home and tortured of his wife.

In June 2023 residents of Um Hamrah neighborhood in Alobid, North Kordofan RSF forces opened fire at civilians following an incident three suspected thieves were killed in the village. The deceased were accused of looting a track in the village. Unknown to the locals, the men were RSF affiliates and thus RSF retaliated by shooting civilians and thus killing at least 20 people on spot.

On 18^th June, 2023 there was a deal signed between RSF and the popular Committee of Alrahad in North Kordofan. The deal aimed at ensuring security in Alrahad. RSF also made a commitment not to get involved in the conflicts in the town and secure the high way to Alobid

Names of people killed in Alobid, North Kordfan on 5^th May 2023

• Eman Ahmed Adam Hamed (f), aged 6.
• Adam Ahmed Adam (m), aged 5
• Khalda Alfatih Musa (f), aged 12
• Ahmed Waleed Sadiw (m), aged 8
• Aldaw Suliman Aldaw (m), aged 6
• Mohamed Azhari Ibrahim Hussien (m), aged 15
• Eman Ibrahim Musa (f), aged 17

Names of people killed in Amu Hamra

• Hassan Alomdah (m)
• Haj Alnaiea (m)
• Aljaili Ahmed (m)
• Mohamed Aljaili Ahmed (m)
• Elteyeb Obed (m)
• Hussien Obed (m)
• Khair Allah Obed (m)
• Alnumir Mohamed Ibrahim (m)
• Talab Ahmed Obed (m)
• Jebreel Alnoor (m)
• Alhadi Ahmed (m)
• Adil E;ltahir (m)
• Adam Alawad (m)
• Ahmed Adam Awad (m)
• Ibrahim Alaj (m)
• Maohanad ibarhim Alahj (m)
• Mahmoud Osman (m)
• Ibrahim Abdul Bagi Haj Ibrahim (m)
• Moahmed Abdul bagi Haj Ibrahim (m)
• Ali Hameed (m)
• Albdul Samaad Abdul bagi (m)

List of people Injured in Alobid

• Abdul Hafez Eltahir (m) aged 25
• Ahmed Alryah Elsdiq (m) aged 13
• Youssef Abdullah (m) aged 14
• Hanan Aldaw (f) aged 50
• Wail Belal (m) aged 18
• Mawia Hasab Alnabi (m) aged 34
• Moahmed Ahmed Eltahir (m) aged 20
• Mawia Faroq (m) aged 30
• Adam Majzob(m) aged 17
• Adam Mohamed Ahmed (m) aged 27