This shocking development has raised serious concerns about the safety of thousands of South Sudanese refugees hold up in Sudan’s months-long civil war

By Emmanuel Mandella

Videos showing horrific killings of South Sudanese refugees in Madani, Al Jazira State, Sudan, sparked outrage and calls for action amid the ongoing Sudanese civil conflict. The graphic footage circulating online depicts defenseless South Sudanese being rounded up, brutalized, and killed, allegedly by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).

This shocking development has raised serious concerns about the safety of thousands of South Sudanese refugees hold up in Sudan’s months-long civil war. Civil society leader Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), condemned the violence as “a severe violation of human rights and international law.”

“I strongly condemn the targeting of South Sudanese refugees. It is a crime that violates international humanitarian law, and those responsible must be held accountable,” Yakani said. He urged Sudanese leaders to protect refugees and refrain from using them as scapegoats in the power struggle between SAF and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Yakani’s condemnation comes amid growing social media outcry. South Sudanese intellectuals and diaspora members have expressed horror over the videos, demanding immediate international intervention. Arthur Gabriel, a prominent South Sudanese writer based in the United States, shared his dismay:

“What the Sudanese army did to civilians in Madani is nothing new. This army, which never represented us, has been brutalizing South Sudanese since 1956. The international community must intervene before more lives are lost,” he posted online.

Despite the global outcry, Sudanese officials have downplayed the severity of the situation. Sudan’s Ambassador to South Sudan, Isam Mohamed Hassan, told Eye Radio that the government was aware of isolated incidents in Kanabi, Madani, but claimed perpetrators had been arrested.

“We have not issued directives targeting South Sudanese. Those responsible have been imprisoned,” he stated.

In an official response, Sudanese government spokesman Khalid Al-Aiser condemned all forms of violence. “We reject any crime committed against anyone in Sudan,” he said, calling on fighters to adhere to justice and respect for prisoners.

Meanwhile, South Sudan Foreign Affairs Ministry, on Wednesday, summoned Isam Mohamed Hassan Karrar, the Ambassador of Sudan to South Sudan, to discuss the incident, which took place following the recapture of Wad Madani by the Sudanese Armed Forces.

“We have received a comprehensive report from our Embassy in Port Sudan detailing the unfortunate events that have resulted in the loss of lives among our innocent citizens, who maintain a non-combatant status and possess foreign nationality,” South Sudan Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted in a statement.

The Ministry called on the Republic of Sudan to consider various measures, which included: ensuring an immediate halt to actions that endanger lives; provision of unrestricted access to consular services for its citizens; conduct a thorough investigation into the reported incidents and hold offenders accountable, and; informing the Ministry the investigation findings and any measures taken in response.

In the meantime, humanitarian organizations and human rights advocates have called for protection of vulnerable refugees and accountability from those behind the killings.