4 civilians shot dead by RSF forces during a looting raid in Sudan

A local rights monitor reported that four civilians, including a child, were killed by gunfire from a force it said belonged to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in a village west of Al-Mazroub in North Kordofan state.

The Kordofan Observatory said in a statement received by Radio Dabanga that the incident occurred on Tuesday evening, October 6, in the village of Taiba Awlad Balouh. According to the group, an RSF force traveling in a four-wheel-drive Land Cruiser combat vehicle stormed the home of resident Abdelbaqi Suleiman Hassan around 11:30 p.m. The force demanded the keys to his private vehicle and room in an apparent attempt to loot money and property.

When Hassan refused, the force opened fire and killed him. Resident Ahmed Al-Jili Balouh was also killed after arriving at the scene upon hearing the gunfire. The observatory said the attack additionally resulted in the deaths of resident Al-Amin Habib Nasser and one child before the force withdrew from the area.

The group condemned the killings as a serious violation of civilians’ rights to life and security. It noted local accounts that Ahmed Al-Jili Balouh had previously faced robbery attempts around the time Sudanese army and joint forces entered the Al-Mazroub area. The army announced it had taken control of the area in early October after the RSF withdrew.

The Kordofan Observatory described the targeting of civilians inside their homes, along with the raid and attempted theft under threat of arms, as a grave breach of international humanitarian law, which requires the protection of civilians. It called for the incident to be documented with a view to holding the members of the force and those who issued orders accountable. The group urged all parties to the conflict to respect civilian lives and property, refrain from raiding and looting homes, and ensure the security of residents in Al-Mazroub and surrounding villages amid ongoing military and security tensions.

The report is based on information from the Kordofan Observatory as carried by Radio Dabanga. No independent verification or response from the Rapid Support Forces was immediately available.