2.4.4. Civilian casualties

As of December 2024, there were no reliable statistics available on direct and indirect conflict deaths. For more information on the difficulty of reporting and obtaining data in the conflict see sections 1.1.4 Security incidents and civilian deaths estimates and section ‎1.3.2 Communication and media presence.

Fatality estimations could be found for Al Jazirah state only: according to the local monitoring group Al Jazirah Conference, the number of fatalities since the RSF had seized control of the state in December 2023 had reached 7 000 after one year, while 2 000 people suffered disabilities due to injuries.893

The Egyptian independent news outlet Mada Masr in a November 2024 article featured a map depicting killings perpetrated by RSF in several Al Jazirah localities based on information from field sources as well as numbers provided by authorities. According to these investigations by Mada Masr, between 20 October and 10 November alone, 1 245 people were killed by the RSF in Al Jazirah state.894 Similarly, the local monitoring group Al Jazirah Conference documented the killing of more than 1 237 civilians in attacks by the RSF in eastern and northern Al Jazirah state between 20 October and 11 November 2024.895 In June 2024, the RSF attacked Wad Al-Noura village in Al Jazirah, shelling the locality for several hours leading to at least 100 civilian deaths according to estimations of the local resistance committee. According to BBC News, this reported death count could possibly make this one of the deadliest attacks since the outbreak of the war.896 Residents pointed out that a reason behind the attack might have been retaliation for some village members having taken up arms against the RSF.897

In October 2024, the defection of RSF commander Abu Aqla Keikel sparked violent retribution against the population of Al Jazirah state.898 The RSF besieged Al-Hilaliya town, home of the defected commander Keikel. Reports of the takeover of the town by the RSF involved the looting of houses and markets, sexual violence against women and the killing of at least 500 people.899 Local sources accused the RSF of poisoning food supplies entering the town which was reportedly a major cause for the high death toll.900 Further causes of death were reportedly the lack of food, water and medical care due to a siege imposed by the RSF on the town.901

From 15 April 2023 to 30 November 2024, ACLED observed 1 393 security incidents in the Central region with a total estimate of 4 407 fatalities.902  

Figure 13: Fatalities as a result of armed conflict in Central region, 15 April 2023 – 30 November 2024, based on ACLED data903