At least 80 people were killed by Sudanese Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in a village located in the southeastern region, as reported by a medical source and witnesses on Friday.
The attack on Jalgini village, situated in the state of Sennar, happened on Thursday despite ongoing US-sponsored negotiations aimed at putting an end to the destructive 16-month-long conflict.
According to a source at Jalgini’s medical centre, 55 deceased individuals and numerous wounded individuals were brought to the hospital on Thursday, and an additional 25 succumbed to their injuries on Friday, bringing the total death toll to 80.
A survivor said the paramilitaries had initially faced resistance from local villagers before returning in full force.
“Yesterday morning, three military vehicles attacked Jalgini. The residents resisted, prompting the retreat of the paramilitaries, who then returned with dozens of vehicles,” a Jalgini resident, who took his wounded son to the hospital, told AFP.
“They opened fire, torching homes and killing numerous people,” said the man, who asked not to be named.
Ceasefire discussions commenced on Wednesday in Switzerland, with mediation from the US, Saudi, and Swiss representatives, although the Sudanese military declined to participate.
Previous negotiation attempts in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, did not resolve the conflict. The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has been in conflict with Sudan’s regular army since April 2023, seized control of Sinja, the capital of Sennar state, in June.
Since that time, more than 726,000 individuals have been displaced in Sennar due to conflict, as reported by the UN agency, the International Organisation for Migration.