Gezira State canal killings

Gezira State canal killings
Part of Sudanese Civil War
Gezira State canal killings (Sudan)
Location	14°24′N33°31′E / 14.400°N 33.517°E / 14.400; 33.517 Wad Medani
Date	January of 2025
Target	Non-Arab ethnic groups
Attack type	Extrajudicial Killings Executions
Perpetrators	Sudanese Armed Forces Sudan Shield Forces Al-Bara' ibn Malik Battalion

The Gezira State Canals killings were attacks commited against the civilian population of Gezira state during the Sudanese Civil War. The attacks took place after the capture of Wad Madani by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) late 2024 to early 2025. The attack were commited by the SAF and paramilitaries affiliated with the SAF like the Sudan Shield Forces (SSF) and al-Bara' ibn Malik battalion.

Background

The Sudanese Civil War ignited on April 2023 and it was fought between the SAF and a paramilitary force Rapid Support Forces (RSF). ^[1] The capital of Gezira State, Wad Madani, was captured by the RSF on December 19, 2023. During the occupation of Wad Manadi RSF was accused of multiple human rights violations including sexual violence, extrajudicial killings and looting. Wad Madani was captured by the SAF forces on 12 January 2025. ^{[2] [3]}

The killings

After the capturing of Wad Madani, SAF declared a "cleanup operation" of the city. According to the investigation conducted by CNN and Lighthouse reports SAF and SSF targeted non-Arab civilians in Gezira under the pretext of the civilians having collaborated with the RSF. ^[4] According to the investigation especially minorities from the Kanabi ethnic group were targeted along with South Sudanese migrant farm workers. ^[5] Some of the civilians had their hands tied behind their back indicating execution style killings. The corpses were dumped in to the canals and irrigation ditches near Wad Medina indicating an effort to conceal the killings. ^[6]

Reactions

Jaafar Mohamedein the Secretary-General of Kanabi Congress accused the SSF and SAF of sexual violence and attacks against Kanabi civilians. ^[7] The US special Envoy for Sudan Tom Perriello described the attacks as "appalling" and called for SAF to investigate the killings. ^[8] The UN high commisioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk called for the end of "retaliatory attacks" against ethnic groups and noted that the attacks would be investigated. ^[9] The SSF stated that "their forces are not targeting civilians based on their ethnicity" and that their troops "strictly adhere to the rules of their engagement and International Humanitarian Law". ^[10]

References

1. "Sudan war: A simple guide to what is happening". www.bbc.com. 13 November 2025. Retrieved 23 April 2026.
2. "Sudan: Rapid Support Forces Target Civilians". 10 November 2024. Retrieved 23 April 2026.
3. Nashed, Mat. "'No way to leave': Sudan paramilitary traps civilians in breadbasket state". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 23 April 2026.
4. Nashed, Mat. "Sudan's army accused of ethnic killings after recapturing strategic city". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 23 April 2026.
5. "The Kanabi Killings". Lighthouse Reports. Retrieved 23 April 2026.
6. "Bodies in the canals". www.cnn.com. Retrieved 23 April 2026.
7. "Sudan war: Dozens dead amid accusations of sexual violence in El Gezira". Dabanga Radio TV Online. 15 January 2025. Retrieved 23 April 2026.
8. "U.S Special Envoy for Sudan" . Retrieved 23 April 2026.
9. "Sudan conflict taking more dangerous turn for civilians". OHCHR. Retrieved 23 April 2026.
10. Fautré, Willy (16 December 2025). "SUDAN: "Bodies in the canals": CNN reveals SAF atrocities against non-Arab civilians | Human Rights Without Frontiers". hrwf.eu. Retrieved 23 April 2026.