Gezira Congress Secretary: RSF Militia Atrocities in the Gezira Amount to War Crimes

By: Abdel Qader Daqash

How do you define the Gezira Conference?

The Gezira Conference is a regional entity that operates in the public and human rights space to advocate for the issues of the people of Gezira. It emerged post-conflict due to various objective factors that necessitated its formation. At a critical juncture in its history, the people of Gezira were betrayed by everyone, even the broad civil movement, which failed to react to what was happening in Gezira.

Is this a precursor to the formation of armed movements in Gezira?

Gezira has traditionally relied on political tools to express itself. It has never been a region known for armed activity, as it lacks tribal, racial, or ethnic conflicts. It is a model of peaceful coexistence, formed through economic cooperation in the Gezira project, and has little tribal loyalty. The people of Gezira have always adhered to the state’s legal framework, with the monopoly of violence belonging solely to the Sudanese Armed Forces.

Is there still value in relying on political tools to solve Sudan’s complex problems?

Political elites must recognise that any country that descends into war clearly indicates the failure of political forces. These forces have failed to civilise societal awareness and instead have fostered a war-driven mentality. This applies to all Sudanese political parties, both right and left, whether by forming militias to oppose authoritarian regimes or by aligning themselves with armed militias.

Does the formation of a regional entity for the people of Gezira amount to regionalism?

The Gezira Conference is a regional gathering focused on a specific geographic area, which is not an anomaly in politics. Countries experiencing shocks as severe as war often rewrite their social contract in accordance with the interests of their stakeholders. Stakeholders are often represented by their geographic and cultural regions, and this is not limited to Sudan—America’s political system is also regional in nature. In Sudan, political elites have historically ignored this matter, so the Gezira Conference sees politics as a human invention to manage geography, and political parties should similarly be designed to manage this geography based on specific frameworks such as parliamentary power and representation.

What does “stakeholders” refer to in this context?

Stakeholders refer to the citizens of Gezira, who come from diverse communities. We have invited the civil society in the region, including Sufi orders, farmers, intellectuals, community leaders, businessmen, and political parties. The conference now includes people from various political affiliations. Our primary agenda is community reconciliation, as everything that existed before April 15 failed when the war broke out. If the war does not force us to reexamine our conceptual, political, and social beliefs, we simply perpetuate the same mentality that caused the current war.

To what extent has the voice of the people of Gezira been heard through this conference?

Before the Gezira Conference, there was no recognition of the people’s suffering in Gezira. There was a deliberate blackout of the violations and tragedies occurring in the region. The Gezira Conference was the first to speak out against these injustices, forcing others to acknowledge them. Now, no discussion about the Sudan war can occur without mentioning Gezira. International donors and peace brokers in Geneva and elsewhere did not acknowledge the crisis in Gezira. Still, the conference has brought this issue to light, ensuring that it is no longer ignored. The people of Gezira, who make up 12% of Sudan’s population, have not carried arms, yet the conference has helped bring global and local recognition to their plight.

What is your stance on members of armed movements that support the army from Gezira?

The Gezira Conference does not recognise any weapons other than the state’s. We believe that all militias, whether allied with the government or the opposition, pose a future threat to our regional security. Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which originally supported the army but later rebelled, demonstrate that armed groups will continue to rise as long as political settlements exist. Our message to all Sudanese is that unless the militia mindset, which unfortunately represents all political elites, is firmly addressed, the problem will persist. However, we recognise the right to self-defence, as enshrined in international law, and we see what happened in Wad Al-Noura as an act of genocide.

Has the Gezira Conference documented the violations committed by the RSF in Gezira?

The Gezira Conference has redefined the war in the region. What is happening in Gezira is different from the conflicts in Khartoum and Darfur, as there was no armed presence in the region to begin with. Under international law, any armed forces entering a civilian area are responsible for protecting civilians. However, the RSF, after the army’s withdrawal, not only failed to do so but committed severe violations, including mass killings amounting to genocide. Over 6,000 civilians were killed, more than 152 cases of rape were recorded, and over 5 million people were displaced from their homes. The RSF also destroyed the infrastructure of the country’s largest agricultural research centre, devastated livestock, and burned crops to starve the population. These actions qualify as war crimes, and we consider what is happening in Gezira as genocide. Therefore, it is justified for the people of Gezira to carry arms in self-defence, as recognised by international treaties.