Bodies recovered from a well in Sharg Elnil, Sudan, indicate severe atrocities in areas recently reclaimed from paramilitary control. Dr. Hisham Zain al-Abdin reported many victims suffered gunshot wounds, with additional bodies found scattered in the district. Local residents expressed fear of retribution when attempting to bury the deceased.
In Sharg Elnil, Sudan, Red Crescent volunteers recently recovered bodies from a well in an area that was reclaimed by the army from paramilitary control. These efforts took place mere weeks after the region transitioned from the hold of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Hisham Zain al-Abdin, the director of forensic medicine for Khartoum state, reported that many of the 15 deceased had gunshot wounds to the head, while some showed evidence of being thrown into the well alive.
Additional bodies have been discovered in other locations, including roadsides and basements throughout the district, with some victims reportedly bound. Zain al-Abdin highlighted the grave occurrences, stating, “A lot of things happened here, and horrific scenes.”
As Sudan’s Civil War approaches its two-year mark, government forces are surprising advancing into territories previously controlled by the RSF, which sought to separate from the military authorities in April 2023. Officials have reported considerable discoveries of killings in these areas formerly under RSF governance.
Despite multiple attempts for comment, the RSF refrained from responding. Historically, they have denied allegations of systemic abuses within their controlled territories, asserting that individuals responsible would be held accountable. Conversely, they have also accused the military of perpetrating abuses, which remain unacknowledged by army officials.
Hussein al-Faki, a local resident who alerted authorities about the bodies, described the fear residents experienced under the RSF’s dominion, stating that attempts to bury the victims were thwarted by armed men. “If you got closer, they would shoot you. They scared us, so we ran away and left them,” he recounted.
The recovery of bodies in Sharg Elnil, Sudan, underscores the ongoing violence and atrocities that have marred the region during the Civil War. The gruesome nature of the findings reveals a troubling pattern of violence previously attributed to the paramilitary RSF. As the army continues its reclamation efforts, the situation remains precarious, and accountability for these actions remains uncertain amidst mutual denials of wrongdoing between the factions involved.
Original Source: www.hindustantimes.com
