IGAD condemns Wad al Noura massacre as Sudan crisis deepens

The Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, has expressed profound sorrow and outrage over the massacre in Wad al Nourah, Gezira State, Sudan.

On June 5, 2024, at least 150 civilians, including 35 children, lost their lives in a brutal attack. Dr. Workneh condemned the incident as a "barbaric act" and a reminder of the suffering endured by innocent civilians in the ongoing conflict.

"The belligerents in the Sudan conflict bear full responsibility and accountability for the recent incidents and the ongoing violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. These atrocities must be denounced and thoroughly investigated, with those responsible held to account," stated Dr. Workneh.

IGAD has expressed deep alarm over the continued deterioration of the situation in Sudan, despite numerous international efforts to broker a ceasefire. The conflict is exacerbating acute hunger and pushing various regions towards famine, endangering millions of Sudanese civilians.

Dr. Workneh reiterated that "there is no military solution to the conflict in Sudan and the path to peace and stability lies in dialogue and negotiation, not in the continuation of hostilities."

The Executive Secretary urged the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to immediately cease hostilities and return to negotiations for a ceasefire and cessation of hostilities.

He emphasised the urgent need for the international community to reinforce its commitment to mobilize global efforts towards a peaceful resolution, assuring IGAD's steadfast support for initiatives aimed at achieving a sustainable ceasefire and lasting peace in Sudan.

Bodies of civilians after an attack in Wad al Nourah, Gezira State, Sudan. (Photo: Handout)

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also condemned the paramilitary attack.

"The Secretary-General strongly condemns the attack reportedly carried out on 5 June by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the Wad Al-Noura village, Jazira state, which is said to have killed over 100 people," said his spokesman Stephane Dujarric in a statement, urging all parties involved in the Sudanese conflict to refrain from actions that harm civilians.

"Grim reminder"

The African Union Commission chairperson Moussa Faki also expressed his horror over the massacre, describing the scenes of devastation and the over 100 bodies being prepared for burial as a "grim reminder that in this senseless war, women and children bear the brunt of the wanton destruction perpetrated by the warring parties."

On Saturday, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) stormed El Fasher South Hospital leading to violent clashes with the Sudanese army and allied forces, ultimately resulting in the RSF's withdrawal.

El Fasher South Hospital, the only operational facility in the city capable of handling mass casualties, has faced repeated attacks since the conflict between the army and the RSF began on May 10.

During the recent raid, RSF fighters confiscated phones and belongings from medical staff, injuring both the hospital director and the medical director, according to doctors who spoke to the Sudan Tribune.

Eyewitnesses reported RSF fighters infiltrating El Fasher and storming the hospital, followed by battles with the army and allied popular movement forces. Clashes erupted on three fronts within the city, displacing thousands of residents who fled the fighting and RSF artillery shelling targeting residential areas and shelters.

Due to these attacks, Doctors Without Borders has called for the hospital's evacuation to a safer location.

Darfur Governor Minni Minawi, speaking at a press conference in Port Sudan, stated that the RSF attacked El Fasher on Saturday "from multiple directions and infiltrated the hospital, where many injured people were being treated, as a result of deliberate bombing." He confirmed that the army and allied forces repelled the attack but said that the city was "burning."

Minawi reported that his daily assessments show a higher civilian death toll compared to soldiers from the army and allied forces, describing the situation as "an attempt at genocide and ethnic cleansing against the residents of El Fasher."

Condemning the RSF as a "terrorist organization," Minawi stated that the group poses a danger to both humans and animals, adding that some members would require "psychological treatment" after the war to reintegrate into society.