Deadly ambush: RSF attack in Western Sudan kills 23 civilians

At least 23 civilians were killed in a paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) attack in North Kordofan State, western Sudan, non-governmental groups reported on Sunday.

The RSF militia committed "a massacre in several villages of the Al-Rahad locality in North Kordofan State, killing at least 23 civilians and injuring others," stated the Mashad Observatory for Human Rights, an unofficial legal body.

The incident occurred when an RSF force intercepted vehicles coming from Al-Rahad city, heading to the weekly market in Um Simaima village, north of Um Rawaba city. The militia opened fire on the passengers, the statement noted.

The Sudanese Doctors Network, a non-governmental group, confirmed the attack, stating that "the RSF carried out a new massacre against civilians from the village of Fangouga in North Kordofan State, opening fire on unarmed passengers on their way to shop, killing 23 people on the spot and injuring others." The network condemned the attack as "a heinous crime against defenseless civilians."

The RSF has yet to comment on the incident.

Sudan has been embroiled in a deadly conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF since mid-April 2023, which has claimed at least 16,650 lives, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Since the conflict's outbreak, over 7.7 million people have been internally displaced within Sudan, and about 2.2 million others have crossed borders into neighbouring countries, according to the UN International Organisation for Migration's June 25 figures.