On January 15, 2025, the United Nations Human Rights Office expressed shock over reports of ethnic killings of civilians in the Al-Jazira state of Sudan. The office urged authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and ensure protection for civilians.
Emergency Lawyers, a group of Sudanese attorneys documenting violence since the war began in April 2023, reported attacks in the town of Um Al-Qura in Eastern Al-Jazira coinciding with the army's advance in the region. The army regained control of Wad Madani, the capital of Al-Jazira state, on January 13, 2025, expelling Rapid Support Forces (RSF) that had taken over the area in December 2023.
Lawyers accused the army and allied militias of detaining several civilians, including women, claiming these attacks are part of ethnic and regional campaigns targeting community members in Al-Jazira accused of collaborating with the RSF. Violations reported include extrajudicial killings, unlawful detention, and torture of civilians during arrests.
The Sudanese army denied involvement in attacks against civilians, characterizing the incidents in Al-Jazira as individual excesses. The army pledged to hold accountable anyone involved in such actions.
Meanwhile, the International Organization for Migration announced that thousands have fled two towns in the Darfur region due to ongoing fighting. Approximately 2,129 families were displaced on January 14, 2025, amid clashes between the RSF and joint forces allied with the army.
Since April 2023, Sudan has been embroiled in conflict between the army led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the RSF led by former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemeti. The fighting has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and the displacement of 12 million people, creating a severe humanitarian crisis described by the UN as the largest displacement crisis globally.
In the vicinity of Al-Fasher city in North Darfur, where the RSF has not managed to seize control, three displaced persons camps are facing famine, according to a report released last month. The UN estimates that over 30 million Sudanese, more than half of whom are children, require assistance following 20 months of conflict.