At least 25 bodies, including women, children, and hospital workers, were discovered in a mass grave in Kurmuk, a city in Sudan’s Blue Nile region, according to local officials. Kurmuk Commissioner Abdel Aty Mohamed al Faki attributed the killings to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group fighting the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) in an ongoing civil war that began in April 2023.
Kurmuk Mass Grave Found Following Military Operations
Military units uncovered the mass burial site during clearance operations in the northeastern part of Kurmuk. The discovery occurred over a month after government forces regained control of the city, as reported by the Sudan Tribune and cited by RT. Victims were reportedly killed near Jebel Fankat, a hill that the RSF had used to launch suicide drone attacks against government positions.
Escalating Casualties Across Darfur and North Kordofan
The grim find in Blue Nile mirrors earlier allegations from other contested regions of Sudan. In November 2025, the Sudan Doctors Network accused the RSF of gathering hundreds of bodies from streets and residential areas in El-Fasher, Darfur. According to those reports, fighters buried some victims in mass graves while burning others to destroy evidence of the killings.
Meanwhile, government forces have secured strategic victories on multiple fronts. The SAF recaptured several areas in North Kordofan from the RSF, including Bara, Jabra al-Sheikh, and Um Sayala. Sudan’s military chief, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, subsequently visited frontline positions in the region. These gains follow the military’s recapture of Khartoum in 2025, after which officials declared the entire capital free of RSF forces.
UN and Red Cross Warn of Neglected Humanitarian Disaster
Despite recent military shifts, the humanitarian crisis across Sudan continues to deteriorate rapidly. Derk Segaar, special envoy for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), issued an urgent appeal for international aid earlier this month. Segaar described Sudan as one of the largest yet most neglected humanitarian crises globally.
Did you know? Geographically situated in Northeast Africa, Sudan shares borders with seven countries—Egypt, Libya, Chad, the Central African Republic, South Sudan, Ethiopia, and Eritrea—making regional displacement flows uniquely complex.
Current estimates indicate that roughly 35 million people require humanitarian assistance. The conflict has displaced more than 9 million individuals internally, while an additional 4.5 million people have fled across Sudan’s borders into neighboring nations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is blamed for the mass grave in Kurmuk?
Kurmuk Commissioner Abdel Aty Mohamed al Faki stated that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are responsible for executing the victims found in the mass grave.
How many victims were found in Kurmuk?
At least 25 bodies were recovered, including women, children, and hospital workers, according to reports citing RT and the Sudan Tribune.
When did the war between SAF and RSF begin?
The conflict between the Sudan Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces broke out in April 2023.
What are your thoughts on the international response to the crisis in Sudan? Leave a comment below or share this article to raise awareness about the ongoing humanitarian emergency.
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