Sudan… A Civilian Victory and the Temptation of Revenge!

By: Osman Mirghani
“An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.” This phrase, attributed to Mahatma Gandhi, came to mind as I followed some of the events that unfolded in the Gezira State, central Sudan. These events nearly overshadowed the overwhelming joy among Sudanese—or rather, the vast majority of them—after the victory achieved by the armed forces and their allied forces, including joint units and local recruits, in reclaiming Wad Madani, the “Heart of Sudan,” along with much of the state’s territory that had been under the control of the “Rapid Support Forces” (RSF) for almost a year. During this time, residents endured immense suffering and severe violations.
Amid the celebrations, disturbing video clips began circulating widely on social media. These videos depicted shocking scenes of civilians being brutally executed by armed individuals—some in military uniforms and others among the local recruits. Although these documented crimes were limited in scale, their impact was profound and damaging. By nature, Sudanese people are repelled by the cruelty displayed in these videos, which showed unarmed individuals being summarily executed, either shot, slaughtered, or subjected to torture and humiliation before being thrown into the river, followed by bursts of gunfire.
Adding to the horror of these crimes were reports—some exaggerated—of targeted attacks on residents of the “Kanabi” settlements in Gezira State, allegedly driven by ethnic motives. Some reports stated that around 13 people were killed by armed individuals in “Kombo Tayba,” an incident interpreted as being ethnically and regionally motivated. This played into a sensitive narrative exploited by those seeking to fuel racism, regionalism, and hatred.
The Kanabi (plural of Kombo, meaning “camp”) are impoverished settlements primarily inhabited by people of western Sudanese origin, specifically from the Darfur region. These individuals settled in Gezira State and worked in agriculture, becoming integral to the region. Their situation has occasionally been exploited to provoke regional conflicts and stir hatred, particularly during the ongoing war. While some parties sought to capitalize on the “Kombo Tayba” crime for divisive purposes, other statements and reports denied the occurrence of widespread or systematic targeting of Kanabi residents, warning against attempts to sow discord and incite hatred.
For many observers, the events following the liberation of Wad Madani were clearly driven by revenge in response to the widespread abuses committed by the RSF since their invasion of Gezira State—abuses that continue in areas still under their control. Some Kanabi residents and others had joined the RSF, participated in its violations, acted as informants, or committed acts of looting against homes and shops. However, there were also many Kanabi residents who joined local recruits from Gezira to fight alongside the armed forces, reclaim their areas, and defend others.
The military leadership deserves credit for swiftly condemning these events and pledging to investigate and hold perpetrators accountable. Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, Chairman of the Sovereign Council and Commander of the Armed Forces, emphasized rejecting revenge and taking justice into one’s own hands. He stated that any individual proven to be involved “in supporting the rebel militia” would face a fair trial.
It is now crucial for the military to act decisively in holding those responsible for these violations accountable. As a disciplined, organized force—not a militia—it bears the responsibility of enforcing its laws and adhering to international humanitarian law. Compounding this challenge is the presence of non-regular forces and recruits fighting alongside the military, some of whom have already been accused of misconduct by citizens. This underscores the need for accountability to prevent chaos and discourage others from seeking vengeance for the abuses inflicted upon them or their families by the RSF.
Given Sudan’s dire circumstances and the intense polarization caused by the war, combating hate speech and attempts to incite division is also of paramount importance. This responsibility lies with everyone. Those who believe they can score political points by amplifying incidents like those in the Kanabi and using them to fuel racism or regionalism are, in reality, driving another dagger into the side of a nation already wounded and burdened by pain.
This war will end sooner or later. If some fail to recognize the need to place a ceiling on conflict—one defined by the nation’s unity and cohesion—Sudan’s suffering will continue, despite the lofty rhetoric that some espouse while acting to the contrary.