RSF carries out 'deadly attack' in North Darfur village
RSF forces raided Mastariha village and burnt several homes, says nongovernmental group Emergency Lawyers.
A Sudanese human rights organization accused the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on Tuesday of carrying out a deadly attack in the village of Mastariha in North Darfur in western Sudan.
The Emergency Lawyers, a nongovernmental group, said in a statement that RSF forces stormed the Mastariha on Monday and burned several homes in the village.
The raid was preceded by drone strikes on several locations, including a health center, market, guest facilities, and residents’ homes, causing casualties and forcing dozens to flee, it added.
The group called the attack a “blatant violation” of international humanitarian law and human rights.
Calls for investigations
“This attack adds to the ongoing record of violations in Darfur, which may constitute genocide and crimes against humanity, reflecting a systematic pattern of attacks on civilians and their property," it said, calling on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate crimes committed in Darfur, and pursue those directly responsible to ensure the protection of civilians.
Several members of the RSF also posted videos from Mastariha, Anadolu News Agency reported.
The military retains control over most of the states in Sudan, including the capital, Khartoum, with the RSF holding the five Darfur states in the west, except for parts of North Darfur that remain under army control.
The conflict in Sudan, which began in April 2023, has killed tens of thousands and displaced about 13 million people, creating one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises and famine conditions, according to UN reports.