A new report by Human Rights Watch accuses militias aligned with General al-Burhan’s army (SAF) of committing war crimes, including the killing of civilians, arson, and looting in Sudan’s Gezira state.
The report, released Tuesday, details allegations against the Sudan Shield Forces, a militia that has fought alongside the SAF. The rights group cites eyewitness accounts and satellite imagery as evidence of systematic attacks against civilians, particularly in the village of Kombo Taiba on January 10. At least 26 people, including a child, were reportedly killed, with homes set ablaze and property looted.
Command Responsibility
Human Rights Watch emphasized that SAF leaders could bear responsibility for crimes committed by their subordinates under the principle of command responsibility. The report describes Sudan Shield Forces fighters arriving in Toyota Land Cruisers, indiscriminately shooting at men and boys, and burning homes. Survivors reported that the attackers returned in the afternoon, targeting individuals during burials, looting, and setting fire to more buildings.
One survivor, a 60-year-old man, said he was shot near his kidney by gunmen in camouflage uniforms. Another witness recounted hearing attackers use racial slurs while shooting at civilians. A woman said armed men stormed the house where she was hiding, demanding to know the whereabouts of their husbands and threatening those inside.
The Role of Sudan Shield Forces
The Sudan Shield Forces, founded in 2022 by Abu Aqila Kekal, has recruited largely from Arab communities in Gezira. Initially allied with the SAF in April 2023, the group briefly defected to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) before realigning with the military in October 2024. Kekal has since been publicly acknowledged by senior military officials, including Sovereign Council member Lt. Gen. Yasir al-Atta.
With the SAF regaining control of Gezira and other areas since January, civilians are reportedly facing retaliatory violence from SAF-aligned forces, accused of targeting those suspected of collaborating with the RSF.
Looting and Killings
Eyewitnesses described widespread looting of food, money, and livestock, with reports of 2,000 cattle being seized. Human Rights Watch verified videos depicting extrajudicial killings and torture by forces linked to the SAF in Wad Madani, Gezira’s capital. The report also links the violence to an escalating diplomatic crisis between Sudan and South Sudan, following the alleged killings of South Sudanese nationals by SAF-affiliated forces.
International Calls for Action
Jan-Baptiste Gallopin, a senior researcher at Human Rights Watch, urged the international community to act swiftly. “There is clear evidence that forces aligned with the SAF have committed horrific crimes against civilians. Countries, including the U.S., U.K., and EU, must impose targeted sanctions on those responsible, including Abu Aqila Kekal.”
The January 10 attack in Kombo Taiba was part of a broader surge in violence as militias and army-affiliated groups targeted communities perceived as supportive of the RSF. The report notes that the attackers included Sudan Shield Forces, the Islamist-aligned Al-Bara bin Malik Battalion, and other local militias.
Kombo Taiba, located 30 kilometers east of Wad Madani, is home to ethnic Tama, Bargo, and Mararit communities, originally from western Sudan. These groups, known as “Kanabi,” have historically been marginalized and were among several farming communities attacked in recent weeks.
Human Rights Watch called on the SAF to investigate and hold those responsible accountable, including suspending Kekal and other key figures within the Sudan Shield Forces pending the results of an inquiry.
