Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) announced on Tuesday that it had responded to citizen tips in Gezira State’s Katra on Sunday, engaging in a firefight with individuals involved in looting. The confrontation led to the demise of 20 criminals and inflicted injuries on several others.
RSF officer and 2 soldiers were also killed in the clash.
Katra residents on Sunday night reported criminal activities, including looting and theft against citizens, RSF said.
RSF says its soldiers quickly responded to the call and attempted to apprehend the criminals once they arrived in the area but were fired upon by the looters.
“After a fierce battle, our forces successfully neutralized 20 criminals. The identities of these individuals are under investigation, along with the motives behind their organized operations targeting civilians,” RSF said.
RSF revealed that it had documented instances and conclusive evidence of former regime and army personnel dressed in RSF uniforms carrying out crimes against civilians in Sennar, White Nile, Gedaref, and Gezira States.
“To the residents of Gezira state, we reassure you that our forces remain committed to pursuing criminals, ensuring their complete defeat, and providing necessary protection,” RSF said.
Sudan has since April 15, 2023 been plunged into a civil war pitting army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan against RSF Commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.
The conflict has resulted in a devastating toll, with over 12,190 casualties and the displacement of more than seven million people, according to estimates by the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project and UN figures, respectively.
Mediation efforts have faced significant obstacles due to deep-seated animosity between the rival factions. Despite Burhan’s administration continuing to issue statements as Sudan’s government, Dagalo’s Rapid Support Forces assert control over Khartoum’s streets, Darfur, and a substantial part of Al-Jazira, once Sudan’s vital agricultural region.
