At least 150 people have been killed and 200 injured in an attack by rebel forces in Sudan, according to local officials and eyewitnesses. The incident occurred in Wad al-Nour village in the central Al-Jazira state, adding to the year-long conflict that has displaced over 7 million people.
Witnesses described scenes of terror as fighters from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) launched a violent assault on the village on Wednesday. An eyewitness reported, “Over 40 armed vehicles stormed the village, using heavy weaponry on civilians, including women and children.” Another witness recounted, “So far, we’ve buried more than 120 people in a mass grave in the middle of the village.”
CNN could not independently verify the exact number of casualties. Footage shared on social media and verified by CNN shows villagers preparing dozens of bodies for burial and RSF militia firing weapons towards the village.
The RSF acknowledged the attack, claiming it was a pre-emptive strike against the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) in response to an alleged planned attack by the army. The SAF operates a military base about 30 kilometers southwest of Wad al-Noura, which may have been a target for the RSF.
Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, SAF Commander-in-Chief and President of the Sudanese Transitional Sovereignty Council, vowed to retaliate, stating, “The response to the militia’s crimes against the martyrs of [Wad al-Nour] will be severe and harsh.”
Since the civil war began in April 2023, both the Sudanese army and the RSF have faced accusations of civilian massacres. The conflict, driven by rival generals—army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF leader General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo—has resulted in widespread violence and displacement.
The Sudanese Transitional Sovereignty Council condemned the RSF’s actions, labeling them part of a systematic campaign of violence against civilians. UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan, Clementine Nkweta-Salami, called for accountability, stating, “Wars have rules that need to be respected, no matter what.”
The International Organization for Migration warned that the number of internally displaced people could exceed 10 million soon, with the UN noting that over 24.8 million urgently need assistance amid the escalating crisis.
