Did Paramilitary Forces Kill 31 Civilians in Sudan's Omdurman?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- 31 civilians killed in Omdurman by RSF.
- The incident is deemed a war crime and a crime against humanity.
- Volunteer groups are calling for urgent international action.
- Over 15 million people displaced due to ongoing conflict.
- RSF control the Al-Salha area amidst escalating violence.
Khartoum, April 28 (NationPress) Reports from volunteer organizations indicate that at least 31 civilians lost their lives due to actions taken by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Omdurman, located north of the Sudanese capital, Khartoum.
According to a statement issued by the Sudanese Doctors Network, a volunteer group, "An RSF unit executed a shocking massacre, claiming the lives of 31 individuals from the Al-Salha area, including minors, marking the most deadly mass killing the region has ever recorded."
They further stated, "We regard this mass execution as a war crime and a crime against humanity. We urge the international community to take immediate action to protect the remaining civilians and establish safe passage for them to exit Al-Salha, which is inhabited by thousands of defenseless civilians."
Meanwhile, another volunteer group, the Central Resistance Committees of Al-Salha, corroborated the killings, alleging that the militia kidnapped unarmed civilians from the locality and executed them, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
"Preliminary data indicates that the number of civilian casualties may exceed 30," stated the group.
The Emergency Lawyers Initiative, a third volunteer organization, condemned the incident, labeling it "a heinous crime and a serious breach of all international norms, qualifying as both war crimes and crimes against humanity."
Footage circulated by soldiers clad in RSF uniforms depicted detainees seated on the ground before being shot. In the video, one soldier was overheard saying, "We will leave no prisoners behind."
The RSF currently exerts control over the Al-Salha area, situated in southern Omdurman, which has been a scene of ongoing confrontations between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF. As of now, the RSF has not responded to these allegations.
Since mid-April 2023, Sudan has been embroiled in conflict between the SAF and RSF, a war that has led to tens of thousands of fatalities, while the precise death toll remains uncertain. The International Organization for Migration estimates that the violence has displaced over 15 million people, both domestically and internationally.