Sudan’s El Gezira state, a vital agricultural region, has become a battleground for chaos and violence since the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) seized control last December.
Residents of Sharafat Alhalaween village recount how RSF fighters, despite initial promises of protection, turned on the community, stealing valuables and forcing thousands to flee.
This pattern of looting, kidnapping, and killing has been replicated across the state, according to testimonies from over 40 individuals.
While the RSF has portrayed itself as a protector of civilians, evidence suggests a lack of control over its forces.
The paramilitary group is composed of a mix of regular and irregular fighters, many driven by personal gain.
The Sudanese Armed Forces, with limited ground presence in the region, has relied on civilian militias for defense, exacerbating the violence.
The conflict has triggered a humanitarian catastrophe, displacing hundreds of thousands and threatening the country’s food security.
International efforts to mediate a ceasefire have yielded little progress, with both sides trading accusations of atrocities and refusing to compromise.
Analysts warn that the RSF’s structure, built on war and plunder, poses significant challenges to any potential peace deal.
As the fighting spreads to neighboring states, the crisis deepens, raising fears of a protracted conflict with devastating consequences for the Sudanese people.
