Recent recoveries from a well in Sharg Elnil, Sudan reveal 15 bodies, many with gunshot wounds. These findings suggest brutal killings during the time the area was under paramilitary control. Residents faced threats preventing them from burying the victims, highlighting a dire humanitarian crisis amidst Sudan’s ongoing civil conflict.
In a recently reclaimed area of Sudan, Red Crescent volunteers, equipped with protective gear, retrieved 15 bodies from a well, revealing alarming evidence of executions during the region’s previous control by paramilitary forces. Hisham Zain al-Abdin, director of forensic medicine for Khartoum state, reported that many victims had gunshot wounds to the head, while some bore signs of having been alive when discarded into the well.
Additional bodies have also been discovered throughout the district of Sharg Elnil, with reports of victims being found on roadsides or hidden in basements. It has been noted that some individuals were tied up prior to their deaths, indicating a pattern of brutality. Zain al-Abdin remarked, “A lot of things happened here, and horrific scenes.”
As Sudan’s civil conflict continues, government forces are making significant progress against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has a history of alleged abuses. The RSF has not issued a statement regarding these recent findings. Instead, they previously denied widespread misconduct in territories under their control and asserted individual accountability, while equally accusing the army of perpetrating atrocities, which the military denies.
Local resident Hussein al-Faki noted that upon discovering the bodies, community members attempted to provide a burial but faced intimidation from armed RSF personnel. They were warned that approaching the bodies would result in gunfire, leaving the locals fearful and causing them to retreat without offering assistance.
The discoveries of bodies in Sharg Elnil underscore the severe human rights violations occurring in areas previously held by paramilitary forces in Sudan. As government forces continue to reclaim territories, the evidence of brutality becomes increasingly evident. Both the RSF and military authorities exchange accusations of abuses, further complicating the situation amidst the ongoing civil war.
Original Source: www.usnews.com