Sudanese military forces have uncovered a mass grave containing at least 25 bodies in the southeastern town of Kurmuk, located in Blue Nile State. Local administrators have pointed to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) as the perpetrators behind the executions.
The grave was located during clearing operations in the northeastern sector of Kurmuk, roughly one month after the Sudanese army reclaimed the town following weeks of intensive combat.
According to Kurmuk Commissioner Abdel Aty Mohamed al-Faki, who announced the finding on Sunday, the grave held the remains of women, children, and medical workers. Al-Faki stated that the victims were executed near Jebel Fankat, an elevated position previously utilized by the RSF to launch drone strikes during their assault on the area. The RSF has not issued a statement regarding the allegations.
Reporting from Khartoum, Al Jazeera’s Almigdad al-Ruhaid described the discovery in Kurmuk as “significant and disturbing,” noting that “the local authorities have accused the Rapid Support Forces of executing them during its occupation of the town of Kurmuk.”
Al-Ruhaid added that hostilities remain ongoing throughout Blue Nile State, noting, “In the city of Kurmuk, the Rapid Support Forces have launched explosive drone attacks for the second consecutive day.” He emphasized that while territorial control shifts between the factions, sustained fighting continues to cause “mass displacement.”
Heavy clashes have also been reported in West Darfur, an RSF stronghold, where the Sudanese armed forces reportedly repelled paramilitary assaults in Bir Saliba, roughly 40 kilometers from el-Geneina.
The broader civil conflict, which erupted in April 2023, has resulted in an estimated 40,000 deaths according to World Health Organization figures and has driven more than 14 million people from their homes.
