* More than 280 civilians believed killed in RSF attacks in North Kordofan *
* ‘They forced people to line up. I grabbed my children and we ran,’ witness tells Avaaz *
* Fears RSF preparing assault on state capital *
MON 21 JUL -- A Sudanese village was left “razed and smouldering” after a massacre by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in which hundreds of civilians were killed, new satellite imagery shows.
The images, collected by the Yale Humanitarian Research Lab (HRL), show the village of Shaq al-Noum, one of several in North Kordofan state attacked by the paramilitary group last weekend.
Analysis by Yale HRL identified smoke rising from several recently-razed structures as well as disjoined areas of thermal scarring “indicative of intentional arson attacks”. Also visible was a pattern consistent with vehicle tracks “around buildings and throughout the community”.
More than 200 civilians are believed to have been killed, most of them burned alive in their homes or shot dead, in the attack on Shaq al-Noum, which began on 12 July.
The Emergency Lawyers human rights group said at least 38 others were killed in simultaneous massacres in the nearby villages of Fojah, Umm Nabag, Jakouh, and Mishqah, while dozens were forcibly disappeared or detained.
The following day, a further 46 civilians, including pregnant women and children, were killed in an attack on the village of Hilat Hamid, it said.
The villages are in the district around the town of Bara, which has been under RSF control for much of the conflict. Yale HRL said the attacks were part of a multidirectional attempt to encircle state capital El Obeid, which sits directly to the south and is currently held by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).
One man from Fojah, named Faheem, told Avaaz the RSF arrived in the village in a convoy of around 30 vehicles.
“The vehicles surrounded the village, forced people to line up, and began detonating explosives in homes,” he said. “Our houses are mostly made of straw, so fires broke out quickly.”
“I saw my aunt’s house burning. She’s one of the oldest women in the village. I grabbed my children and we ran. We didn’t hear from anyone else.”
Faheem said the family walked for five or six hours before reaching Bara, where they met relatives and were able to travel on to El Obeid. One of his relatives lost four children in the attack on Fojah, he said.
The massacre is believed to be one of the deadliest since the war began in April 2023. Unverified footage reportedly shot in Shaq al-Noum showed structures ablaze and RSF troops running between the houses. Shouts and gunfire could also be heard.
Yale HRL said the RSF’s current activities were “consistent with a rapid offensive to consolidate control” of territory as the rainy season gets under way. The rainy season reduces access to roads and increases cloud cover, effectively halting the fighting.
Satellite imagery taken on 14 July shows thermal scarring (highlighted in red) and razed buildings in Shaq al-Noum. © 2025, Maxar Technologies
In a statement, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, called the prospect of an offensive on El Obeid “worrying” and said any escalation would “further aggravate the already severe risks to civilians and the dire humanitarian situation in a conflict that has already wrought untold suffering on the Sudanese people”.
The International Organization for Migration estimates that 675 households were displaced from Shaq al-Noum and the nearby village of Al Kordi just between 11 and 12 July.
Duria, a mental health counsellor in El Obeid, told Avaaz that 700 families from the Bara district arrived at a displacement camp in the city on Wednesday and that recent weeks had seen “continuous waves” of displacement.
“People urgently need tents, clean water, dry food, and basic supplies. Health conditions are poor, and the number of displaced people is growing. There is an urgent need for medical and psychological support," she said.
She added that there were many children living on the streets and that at least 371 children in El Obeid had been left with full or partial disabilities because of the war.
Since SAF retook Khartoum in March, the Kordofan region has become an increasingly important battleground. The RSF is aiming to create a buffer zone between the western region of Darfur, almost all of which is under its control, and the territory controlled by SAF.
Voices from the Ground
Interviews available on request. Names have been changed due to safety concerns.
Faheem, a civilian from the village of Fojah who witnessed the attacks, told Avaaz:
“Last Saturday morning, around 30 vehicles entered the village — people saw them coming. At that moment, I was actually looking for a ride to El Obeid because I needed to return to work.
“The vehicles surrounded the village, forced people to line up, and began detonating explosives in homes. Our houses are mostly made of straw, so fires broke out quickly. Some of the young men tried to resist with rifles, but the RSF dismounted and began entering the houses.
“I saw my aunt’s house burning. She’s one of the oldest women in the village. I grabbed my children and we ran. We didn’t hear from anyone else—we just walked for five or six hours with two donkeys until we reached Bara and found transportation to El Obeid.
“When we got to [the town of] Bara, we met relatives from Shaq Al-Noum, Juko, Um Nabaq, Safira, and other nearby villages. They told us the same thing had happened to them. One of them brought a wounded person with them, but he died before they arrived. We spent the day before yesterday at the camp and met many others from the surrounding villages.
“From our village, Fojah, 13 people were killed, including four children—our uncle’s children, two boys and two girls. Many others were injured, especially from burns.
“After the fire, the RSF stayed for a full day looting, then left. Now we hear that they come and go on motorcycles, but they don’t stay for long.”
Duria, a mental health counsellor in El Obeid, told Avaaz:
“I am a therapist from El-Obeid. I’ve stayed in the city throughout the war and also run a counselling centre that provides psychological support, especially for women and girls.
“Just yesterday, 700 families arrived from Bara to a displacement camp in eastern El-Obeid. Over the past few weeks, there have been continuous waves of displacement from three main directions west of the city: from Al-Khuwei, Al-Nuhud, and nearby villages; from the south of El-Obeid; and from the north, including Dar Al-Reeh and rural Bara.
“The situation is very difficult. People urgently need tents, clean water, dry food, and basic supplies. Health conditions are poor, and the number of displaced people is growing. Many are dealing with trauma and depression. I work closely with displaced girls, and we see more arriving every day. There is an urgent need for medical and psychological support.
“The main needs include tents, mosquito nets, food, mental health care, free clinics, awareness sessions, hygiene kits, cash assistance, help getting legal documents, and support for displaced people in host communities. We also need livelihood and empowerment projects, and efforts to rebuild the social fabric.
“Children need special attention. There are many street children, and at least 371 children in El-Obeid have been left with full or partial disabilities because of the war.”
The weekly dispatch features the latest developments, first-hand testimony, footage, photos, stats and analysis on Sudan. We can connect you with voices from the ground, experts and survivors of the war.
Contact us at +44 7914 796 678 / sudan@avaaz.org
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) is building an earthen wall around El Fasher to create a “kill box” and prevent civilians fleeing the besieged city, satellite imagery suggests.
People caught trying to smuggle food into the besieged city of El Fasher are being “executed on sight” by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), according to one civilian.
Avaaz Foundation
110 Golden Lane | London, England, EC1Y 0TG
1330 6th Avenue, Suite 23A | New York, NY 10019, USA
.svg)
