Rapid Support Forces accused of killing civilians in Um Bader attack

A Sudanese community organization, the Dar Hamar Emergency Committee, has accused the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of attacking a market in the town of Um Bader, North Kordofan. The attack reportedly killed five civilians, including a goldsmith, and injured 27 others. The committee stated that the RSF seized territory separating the Um Bader mining market from the Um Bader al-Hilla area, using it as a base for combat vehicles and looting gold shops and local businesses.

In the broader regional context, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have made significant territorial gains in North Kordofan. Reports indicate the military has secured strategic locations, including the Al-Jamama area northeast of Sudari, and has gained control over eleven other areas in the state. These advancements have helped secure the road connecting Bara to Omdurman.

Meanwhile, the town of Jabrat al-Sheikh is experiencing a massive influx of displaced persons due to heavy RSF military build-ups within residential neighborhoods. The ongoing conflict between the SAF and RSF, which began in April 2023, has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and the displacement of approximately 13 million people according to United Nations estimates.