Bodies discovered in Khartoum well following Sudanese army’s advance

Sudanese officials have recovered 11 bodies from a well in Khartoum’s Fayhaa neighborhood, days after military forces expelled paramilitary fighters from the area. The grim discovery includes the remains of men, women, and children, according to civil defense authorities.

Colonel Abdul-Rahanan Mohamed Hassan, leading the civil defense recovery operation, confirmed the search began after residents reported finding a body in the well. “We discovered various bodies inside this well, including males, females, adults, and children,” Hassan stated, adding that the search for additional remains continues.

Authorities believe the victims were killed by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and subsequently disposed of in the well during their control of the area. The military reclaimed the neighborhood earlier this month as part of broader offensive operations in Khartoum and Omdurman.

Local residents have provided harrowing testimony about conditions under RSF occupation. Afraa al-Hajj Omar from nearby Hajj Youssef neighborhood claimed the paramilitary group killed numerous individuals, leaving bodies on streets for days. “They robbed us, beat us, and tortured us,” she recounted.

The discovery represents another chapter in Sudan’s devastating conflict, which has claimed at least 20,000 lives—though experts believe the actual death toll is substantially higher. The humanitarian crisis continues to escalate, with over 14 million people now displaced and parts of the country facing famine conditions.

Fighting has devastated urban centers including Khartoum, featuring documented atrocities such as mass rape and ethnically targeted killings. International organizations have classified these acts as war crimes and crimes against humanity, particularly in Darfur region.

Recent months have seen military forces making consistent advances against RSF positions in the capital and surrounding areas, gradually shifting the conflict’s territorial control dynamics.