Eastern Al-Jazeera State: Violence, Displacement, and the Pursuit of Justice
Report by Mashaer Idris
Survivors from villages in eastern Al-Jazeera, Sudan, recount harrowing stories of violence and abuses perpetrated by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the region. Officials report alarming statistics, raising questions about whether the victims will ever achieve justice.
Fatima Abdullah (a pseudonym), a resident of one of the villages in eastern Al-Jazeera, revealed that the RSF carried out violent attacks on young women, raping many in the area. She explained that she had to hand over all her money, jewelry, and phone to the forces to avoid being raped herself.
Speaking in a hoarse voice, laden with pain and tears, Fatima recounted, “The RSF shot my brother dead right in front of us, and we were powerless to protect him.”
She continued her account with profound sorrow, describing how she was severely beaten in front of her family for refusing to accompany the forces to an unknown location. She and her family eventually fled their village to a state in eastern Sudan after enduring prolonged suffering and a constant fear of falling into RSF hands.
Meanwhile, Amina Saleh (a pseudonym), a resident of Wad Al-Sayed, another village in eastern Al-Jazeera, spoke of the abuses inflicted upon citizens, including looting of their property and livestock. She described her familys dire situation, with no safe place to settle and a lack of money to meet basic needs. She confirmed that they now live in a shelter camp devoid of life’s essentials.
On October 21, the RSF launched retaliatory campaigns targeting dozens of villages in eastern Al-Jazeera following the defection of their commander in Al-Jazeera State, Abu Aqla Kikil, who joined the Sudanese army.
Systematic Violence in Al-Jazeera
Mabar Mahmoud, Secretary-General of the Al-Jazeera Conference—a civilian entity formed after RSF took control of Al-Jazeera State in central Sudan last December—stated that the RSF systematically targeted civilians in eastern Al-Jazeera based on ethnic identity. He disclosed that the forces committed violations in all 515 towns and villages in Al-Jazeera, forcibly displacing residents from 400 of them. Some villages were entirely evacuated, while others remained under siege, depriving residents of mobility and basic services.
Mahmoud reported over 1,700 civilian deaths, 71 cases of sexual violence against women and girls, and the displacement of more than 1.5 million people—850,000 of them local residents and the rest displaced from Khartoum and other areas in Al-Jazeera.
Fleeing East and North
Mahmoud noted that most displaced individuals fled to the eastern states of Kassala and Gedaref or northwards to the River Nile and Northern States. In Shendi locality, River Nile State alone, the number of displaced exceeded 100,000, scattered across 40 camps, all suffering from inadequate basic services and outbreaks of diseases, particularly cholera.
He added that most villages are now deserted and looted, with some still under siege. The capital of the locality, Rufaa, remains encircled, with civilians enduring slow death due to blockades, disease outbreaks, and a lack of food and healthcare.
The Need to End the War
Legal expert Rehab Al-Mubarak stressed that achieving justice for victims in eastern Al-Jazeera begins with halting the war, followed by building a state of institutions and law. This would include reforming local laws to align with international humanitarian law.
She emphasized the necessity of accountability and preventing impunity, suggesting that cases could be presented before the African Court or the International Criminal Court, as the crimes committed qualify as war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Psychological Impact on Victims
Psychologist Ibtisam Mahmoud highlighted the profound psychological effects of RSF violations on survivors in eastern Al-Jazeera. She explained that war represents one of the most significant psychological traumas an individual can face, especially when it lacks any ethical boundaries.
The violations included sexual assaults, torture, violent threats, and looting, leading to psychological and social insecurity for victims with long-term consequences for individuals and communities.
She stressed the importance of providing psychological and social support to survivors in camps, starting with ensuring a safe environment, assessing psychological issues, and training specialized staff. She added that reintegrating survivors into their communities would require substantial psychological, economic, and spiritual efforts to help them recover from the traumas of war.
