Alleged Extrajudicial Killings in Khartoum Spark Outrage and Calls for Investigation

 

Relatives and human rights organizations have raised alarms over the alleged execution of dozens of young men in Khartoum, Sudan, accused of collaborating with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group involved in the ongoing conflict with the Sudanese army. The killings are said to have taken place in September when fighters from the Islamist Al-Bara’ ibn Malik brigade crossed into the Khartoum North area, after weeks of attempts, and reportedly executed men in the Halfaya neighborhood.

Eyewitnesses claim the men were apprehended by the brigade, some of whom were killed on the spot, while others were taken to a military base in Omdurman. On the day of the killings, local residents say Islamic jurists accompanied the brigade, issuing fatwas justifying the execution of those accused of supporting the RSF, based on the testimonies of two local individuals.

Among the victims was 18-year-old Asmaa Mubarak’s cousin, who had fled Khartoum North earlier in the year to avoid the violence. After returning to Khartoum, he attempted to protect the family home from looters but was accused of cooperating with the RSF and killed. Mubarak, fearing social stigma, later claimed her cousin had died from a stray bullet. Another victim, a South Sudanese refugee named John, was also allegedly executed under similar charges.

The Sudan Democratic Lawyers Front has condemned the killings as "clear war crimes" and has called for a thorough investigation into the incident. The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights also expressed concerns, announcing an investigation into reports of civilian deaths in Khartoum.

The Al-Bara’ ibn Malik brigade, led by former Islamic movement members from the era of Sudan's former president Omar al-Bashir, has been a prominent player in the ongoing civil war. The Sudanese army, however, has denied involvement in the extrajudicial killings, accusing critics of launching a smear campaign.

This tragedy comes as the war between the RSF and the Sudanese army, which began in April 2023, continues to devastate the country. The conflict has claimed tens of thousands of lives, displaced millions, and put Sudan on the brink of famine. The international community, meanwhile, has faced criticism for its insufficient response to the escalating crisis.

The Sudanese conflict has drawn attention to the dangers faced by civilians caught in the crossfire, with both the RSF and the army accused of targeting non-combatants during the fighting. UN officials have warned that the global community has yet to fully comprehend the severity of the situation.