CAIRO (AP) — Sudanese authorities announced that they discovered numerous bodies at the bottom of a well in the capital, Khartoum, following the military's recent efforts to clear the area of a notorious paramilitary group. The recovery operation took place in the Fayhaa neighborhood, where police reported finding the bodies of 11 individuals, including women and children, on Saturday.
Col. Abdul-Rahanan Mohamed Hassan, who leads the civil defense’s field team in Khartoum, indicated that the search was initiated after residents alerted officials about a dead body found in the well. While conducting the search, Hassan noted that they uncovered a variety of bodies, comprising both males and females, adults and children. He confirmed that authorities continue to investigate the well for any additional remains.
According to police reports, the victims were allegedly killed by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) prior to being discarded into the well during the time the paramilitary group exercised control over the area. The military has since regained control, marking a significant development in their operations aimed at reclaiming territory in Khartoum and its adjoining city, Omdurman.
There has been no immediate response from the RSF regarding the allegations of mass killings. Local resident Afraa al-Hajj Omar, from the nearby Hajj Youssef neighborhood, recounted the traumatic experiences endured by the community. She claimed that the RSF killed numerous individuals, leaving their bodies on the streets for extended periods. Moreover, she detailed accounts of robbery, beating, and torture perpetrated by the RSF during their occupation of the area.
Since April 2023, Sudan has been engulfed in instability as escalating tensions between the military and the RSF erupted into widespread conflict across the nation. Reports suggest that at least 20,000 people have lost their lives in the violence, although the actual figure could be significantly higher. The ongoing war has displaced over 14 million individuals and has led to severe humanitarian crises, with parts of the country facing famine.
The conflict has led to widespread devastation in urban centers like Khartoum, characterized by atrocities including mass sexual violence and ethnically motivated killings. These actions have been classified as war crimes and crimes against humanity by the United Nations and various international human rights organizations, particularly in the western region of Darfur.
As military operations against the RSF continue to intensify, combat in recent months has increasingly favored the military, with significant territorial advancements noted in Khartoum and other regions of the country. The escalating tensions and violence contribute to an increasingly dire situation for the civilian population, as the humanitarian crisis deepens.
— Samy Magdy, The Associated Press
