ar: https://kedencentre.org/2025/12/22/who-is-responsible-for-civilians-suffering-in-babanusa/
Introduction
This report addresses the humanitarian facts and violations suffered by civilians in Babanusa locality in West Kordofan State since the beginning of armed conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces. The report seeks to document what occurred and link these facts to international human rights law and international humanitarian law. The report relies on direct testimonies from displaced persons, monitoring events from local emergency rooms, and information from reliable media sources and international reports.
Report Methodology
The report relies on collecting statements from eyewitnesses among Babanusa residents who were displaced during the conflict. These statements were analyzed based on comparing multiple testimonies to ensure accuracy and reliability, in addition to independent media reports on combat developments and field transformations in the area. Fact verification and confirmation of dates and events from multiple sources were observed to provide a comprehensive picture of violations that claimed civilian victims.
Background of Conflict in Babanusa
Before the outbreak of war in Babanusa locality, native administrations made efforts to prevent the city from becoming a conflict arena. These administrations advanced peaceful initiatives to negotiate with Armed Forces for the surrender of the 22nd Division located in the city and its safe exit to avoid fighting within residential neighborhoods. However, these initiatives were met with rejection, prompting those administrations to address Rapid Support Forces to grant a three-day deadline so civilians could leave the city safely before any military clashes erupted. In a public meeting of city residents, attendees were informed of the content of these dialogues, the granting of that deadline, and the importance it represented in protecting civilians.
Citizen I.S. testifies saying: “Before the conflict parties entered into clashes and before war broke out in the area, there were initiatives undertaken by native administrations that tried hard to spare the country the woes of war, but the initiatives failed. Native administrations proposed to the army to surrender the 22nd Division Babanusa and exit safely to spare the country the woes of war, but the army refused to surrender the division. Native administrations then sat with Rapid Support Forces and requested a three-day deadline for citizens to exit the city safely, and after that if there were any military operations, the citizen would be far from them. After that, there was a meeting for the entire city at the Youth Center where citizens were informed about the dialogue that occurred between native administrations and the army, and the dialogue between native administrations and Rapid Support Forces, and that Rapid Support Forces were granted three days for citizens to exit the city safely and there would be military conflict between the two parties after the specified deadline.”
I.S. continues about displacement saying: “I am among the people who left during the specified period. During the three-day period, the city witnessed many displacement waves; the majority left during that period. After our departure, we began following events remotely, as there were groups of families that did not leave Babanusa until 22/1/2024, when the first military operations occurred in Babanusa. On that day, most families that had not left during the three-day deadline departed, and some people could not leave. A group of civilians died that day. Only a few families remained in the city compared to the group of families that left, though the remaining families themselves were not few. Citizens left in different directions; there was a group that left in the southern direction toward Al-Majlad, a group left in the western direction from the city toward the villages of Qantur and Khuwayrat, and a group left north of the city toward the villages of Kala’it and Al-Jak. We were in one of the villages near Babanusa.”
Military Developments and Associated Violations
Military operations in Babanusa locality escalated with Rapid Support Forces’ attempts to control the 22nd Infantry Division. These forces announced on December 1, 2025 their control of the city and division headquarters after fierce battles with the Sudanese army, while the Armed Forces confirmed their rejection of this, though the control was subject to multiple media monitoring. This date is considered an important turning point in the conflict in West Kordofan, as the city’s fall represents the end of a long siege lasting about two years since January 2024, followed by a wide escalation in attacks on civilians and civilian property.
The city witnessed drone attacks that resulted in the killing of more than 104 civilians including 43 children. These attacks targeted civilian facilities such as hospitals and kindergartens, indicating a flagrant violation of the principle of distinction between civilians and military objectives. Reports also indicated that Rapid Support Forces launched retaliatory attacks in villages north of En Nahud, where dozens of civilians including women, children, and elderly were killed inside their homes, clarifying that violations were systematic.
Volunteers also reported that seven families were detained near the city on the pretext of their relatives’ connection to army service, representing a clear breach of civilian protection and falling within violations classified as arbitrary detention. A main hospital in the city was reported to have been converted into a military base, depriving civilians of basic healthcare. Human rights organizations documented the use of sexual violence, forced recruitment of children, looting of property, and indiscriminate attacks on markets and homes, reflecting a continuing pattern of widespread violations against civilians.
The long battles before the city’s fall also led to agriculture stoppage in surrounding areas, depriving residents of harvest season, exacerbating food crisis and poverty, and displacing thousands of civilians to safe areas north of the city and in surrounding villages such as Ab Jak, Al-Majlad, Qantur, and Khuwayrat. Drone attacks and artillery shelling continued until the end of November 2025, increasing civilian suffering.
Humanitarian and Community Efforts
With the humanitarian crisis worsening, community initiatives began from Babanusa’s sons inside and outside, coordinating with local emergency rooms to collect donations and move convoys to transport displaced persons to safe areas. The Ab Jak area north of the city received a large proportion of displaced persons, containing shelter centers including schools transformed into housing for thousands. A kitchen affiliated with the emergency room provides food and food assistance to displaced persons.
Humanitarian Impact
The conflict affected all aspects of daily life, where tens of thousands were forced to displace. Their suffering intensified due to interruption of health and educational services and lack of food and clean water. Women and children were exposed to additional security and health risks, reflecting worsening humanitarian conditions amid conflict continuation and attack escalation.
Legal Framework
Documented facts relate to international humanitarian law which prohibits attacks on civilians and civilian property, ensures protection of medical and educational facilities, and aligns with fundamental human rights including the right to life and physical safety, inviolability of safe place, and non-exposure to forced displacement. Facts indicate the possibility of war crimes commission resulting from extrajudicial killing, arbitrary detention, and attacks on civilians.
Responsibility
Rapid Support Forces and Armed Forces bear direct responsibility for violations that occurred, including attacks on civilians, forced displacement, arbitrary detention, depriving residents of basic services, and converting civilian facilities into military bases, constituting a flagrant breach of international humanitarian law obligations.
Recommendations
The report demands immediate cessation of all violations, ensuring protection of civilians and civilian objects, allowing safe access of humanitarian aid, opening independent investigations to determine legal responsibilities and hold those involved accountable, providing comprehensive support to displaced persons including food, shelter, healthcare, and education, continuing documentation of violations to enhance accountability according to international standards, while supporting local community initiatives to ensure effective humanitarian response and civilian protection.
