Sudanese Rapid Support Forces Strengthen Control Over Geneina, West Darfur

The Sudanese Rapid Support Forces announced today, Saturday, their control over the army headquarters in the city of Geneina, the capital of West Darfur state, tightening their grip on the city, where they have been accused of carrying out a series of ethnic killings. Relief workers say thousands of refugees have arrived in Chad since the Rapid Support Forces began attacking Geneina last week, joining more than 500,000 Sudanese who have fled from there since the fighting between the paramilitary force and the army began in April. Local residents in Geneina accuse the Rapid Support Forces and allied Arab militias of targeting and killing thousands from the Masalit tribe, looting homes and markets, and raping women. The leadership of the Rapid Support Forces denies these accusations and states that it will bring to trial anyone proven guilty of committing violations. The Sudanese Alliance, a militia fighting alongside the army, acknowledged its losses in a statement regarding the "events at the 15th Division command in Geneina," but affirmed that it would continue to fight the Rapid Support Forces and that "losing a battle does not mean losing the war." The Sudanese army has not commented on the events.