Clementine Nkweta-Salami spoke out following accusations by an activist group that at least 124 civilians were killed in RSF attacks on villages over the past week. The RSF has refuted these claims, arguing that its confrontations have been with militias armed by the military.

The ongoing 18-month conflict in Sudan has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands and displaced over 11 million people. Gezira state recently emerged as a significant battle zone after a major defection from the RSF. One of its commanders, Abu Aqla Kayka, switched allegiance to the military, reportedly bringing a substantial contingent of forces with him. The military hailed this as the first high-profile defection to its side. In retaliation, the RSF announced that it would defend its position vigorously and deal forcefully with any armed opposition.

Ms. Nkweta-Salami reported that preliminary findings suggested a comprehensive RSF assault across the state from October 20 to 25. This offensive reportedly led to mass killings, sexual violence against women and girls, looting of markets and homes, and the burning of farms. The scale of these crimes, she noted, is comparable to those witnessed in Sudan's Darfur region the previous year, where the RSF faced accusations of ethnic cleansing against communities perceived to be adversarial.

The Wad Madani Resistance Committee, which advocates for the cessation of the conflict and a transition to democratic rule in Sudan, denounced what it described as extensive massacres committed by the RSF in various villages. Supporting this stance, the Sudanese doctors' union urged the UN to negotiate the establishment of safe humanitarian corridors into affected villages. The union decried the difficulty of conducting rescue operations and criticized the army’s failure to protect civilians.

The Sudanese conflict erupted in April 2023 following a dispute between RSF leader Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo and military chief Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. The two had previously orchestrated a coup in 2021, disrupting Sudan’s democratic transition but soon became entangled in a fierce power struggle. Despite international mediation efforts by the US and Saudi Arabia, the warring leaders have yet to agree on a peace deal.