NAIROBI, Kenya – Since the outbreak of war in Sudan between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in mid-April 2023, international and human rights organisations have documented egregious abuses perpetrated by the Sudanese military and its allied forces against civilians.
In November 2024, reports confirmed that the army carried out a massacre in the city of Dindir and villages in eastern Sennar, resulting in the deaths of over 350 civilians under the pretext of their alleged collaboration with the RSF.
The Hausa Youth Gathering stated: “Tragic events unfolded in Dindir and the villages of eastern Sennar following the withdrawal of the RSF and the subsequent entry of the army, leaving hundreds dead, the majority of whom were Hausa tribesmen.”
The statement further asserted: “We hold the Sudanese army fully accountable for these massacres and strongly condemn the complicity of the Baraa bin Malik Brigades, which operate under the army’s banner and engage in so-called ‘special operations.’ According to our preliminary estimates, these atrocities have claimed the lives of over 350 people, most of them young men from our tribe.”
The Sudanese Observatory for Human Rights also condemned the torture and killing of more than 440 civilians in Dindir at the hands of the Sudanese army, including entire families targeted on ethnic and regional grounds.
A statement from the Observatory declared: “These violations occurred following the army’s recent recapture of Dindir from the RSF. According to our field team, the abuses have affected all demographics, particularly young men accused of affiliation with the RSF. Initial reports indicate that hundreds of civilians are currently subjected to horrific violations.”
The organization called on the United Nations and international human rights bodies to conduct an urgent investigation into these crimes and to denounce them by international humanitarian and human rights law.
Other Massacres
The Dindir massacre is not an isolated incident. The Sudanese army and its allied forces have been implicated in similar atrocities against unarmed civilians in Gezira State, triggering widespread international condemnation.
Following the military’s entry into Gezira, testimonies and video footage surfaced documenting summary executions and acts of brutal mistreatment against defenceless civilians.
Human rights organisations and civil society groups reported that at least 13 individuals, including two children, were killed in ethnically motivated attacks targeting minority groups in this key agricultural region.
Organizations such as the Emergency Lawyers Group have placed direct responsibility on the Sudanese army and Islamist factions, asserting that these violations amount to war crimes.
International Condemnations
In response to these atrocities, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced sanctions against the commander of the Sudanese army, accusing the military of conducting attacks on schools, marketplaces, and hospitals, obstructing the delivery of humanitarian aid, and employing “starvation as a weapon of war.”
Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo stated that these measures “underscore our commitment to ending this conflict.”
Earlier, the U.S. Secretary of State had declared: “The Sudanese Armed Forces have violated international humanitarian law, weaponized starvation, and obstructed peace efforts,” highlighting the protracted nature of the conflict, which has persisted since April 2023.
Tom Perriello, the U.S. Special Envoy for Sudan, also condemned reports from the city of Wad Medani, detailing retaliatory attacks against civilians. Describing the violations as “appalling and unacceptable,” he called for immediate action by the Sudanese army and its affiliated militias to investigate these crimes and ensure accountability for those responsible.
