By: Sarah Baafi
Recent violence in Sudan’s White Nile State has left hundreds of civilians dead following attacks by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Sudanese officials and rights groups report that the RSF targeted villages in the al-Gitaina area, resulting in mass casualties, including infants.
The Sudanese Foreign Ministry claims 433 people were killed, while the Preliminary Committee of Sudan Doctors’ Trade Union estimates around 300 deaths. Emergency Lawyers, a rights group, reports over 200 deaths, including women and children, with the RSF accused of executions, kidnappings, and looting.
These attacks are occurring against the backdrop of the ongoing conflict in Sudan between the RSF and the Sudanese military, which has been raging since April 2023.
The UN estimates that the war has caused over 24,000 deaths and displaced 14 million people, with 3.2 million Sudanese fleeing to neighboring countries. The UN is now seeking $6 billion in aid for Sudan in 2025 to address the escalating humanitarian crisis.
The Sudanese military has claimed recent advances, cutting off RSF supply routes and regaining control of key areas, including the country’s largest oil refinery. International efforts to mediate the conflict have so far been unsuccessful.
