In the midst of Sudan's ongoing devastating conflict, a paramilitary group from Sudan, known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has carried out a horrifying rampage through a central village. According to authorities and residents, the attack in Galgani, located in the central province of Sennar, resulted in the deaths of at least 85 people, including women and children.

The RSF launched the assault on Galgani towards the end of July, with reports indicating that last week the fighters indiscriminately opened fire on the unarmed residents of the village after their attempts to abduct and sexually assault women and girls were met with resistance. Sudan's Foreign Ministry condemned the attack in a statement, revealing that over 150 villagers were wounded in the brutal assault.

This is not the first time the RSF has been associated with such atrocities. Since the start of the conflict in April last year, the group has faced repeated accusations of massacres, rapes, and other gross violations across the country. The conflict initially erupted from simmering tensions between the military and the RSF, leading to fighting in the capital city of Khartoum and various other regions.

Eyewitness accounts describe the relentless attack on Galgani by hundreds of RSF fighters. They stormed the village, looting and burning houses and public properties. Initially repelled by the residents' resistance, the fighters regrouped and returned with heavy weapons, launching a vicious offensive on the defenseless village.

The aftermath of the attack has revealed the devastating toll on the villagers. At least 80 bodies, including 24 women and minors, have been received at the local medical center as of Friday. Mohamed Tajal-Amin, a resident, described the grim scene of bodies lying in the streets, as the Janjaweed - a name associated with past genocides in Darfur and the predecessor of the RSF - prevent people from recovering their dead and giving them a proper burial.

This recent attack comes at a critical time, as efforts led by the United States to resume peace talks between the military and the RSF are underway. The talks, however, have been boycotted by the military and have taken place in Switzerland with the presence of diplomats from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, the African Union, and the United Nations. Unfortunately, the RSF delegation sent to Geneva did not participate in the meetings.

Sudan's conflict has resulted in an alarming displacement crisis, with over 10.7 million people forced to flee their homes since the fighting began. More than 2 million of these displaced individuals have sought refuge in neighboring countries. The war has been marred by serious human rights violations, including mass rape and ethnically motivated killings, which have been classified as war crimes and crimes against humanity by the United Nations and international rights groups.

As the international community strives to find a resolution to the ongoing conflict, the attack on Galgani serves as a painful reminder of the urgent need to address the violence and instability in Sudan before more innocent lives are lost.