Residents of Sudan’s Tuti Island, a once-peaceful retreat at the confluence of the Blue and White Nile, have come forward with harrowing accounts of life under the control of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) after the Sudanese army reclaimed the area.
For months, the RSF, a paramilitary group locked in conflict with the military since April 2023, ruled the island with an iron grip, blocking medical access, extorting residents, and detaining individuals without cause. Elderly islander Omar al-Hassan recalled being denied medical treatment despite having the required documents. “They just wanted money,” he said.
The RSF, which still controls large parts of western Sudan, has previously denied human rights abuses or promised to hold perpetrators accountable. However, the United Nations has accused both the RSF and the Sudanese army of violations that could amount to war crimes.
Tuti Island, once a haven for Sudanese seeking respite amid the country’s turbulent history, has suffered greatly under the conflict. The island’s 10,000 residents, known for their farming traditions and coffeehouse gatherings, now face famine and a dengue fever outbreak.
This week, Sudan’s military, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, declared full control over Khartoum, including Tuti Island. Soldier Al-Tahir al-Tayeb assured residents the army had conducted a “thorough cleanup” and urged them to return. “Tuti is free, and God is great,” he proclaimed, tapping his gun.
The destruction left behind by the RSF is evident. Shops have been damaged, and mosques now serve as gathering points for displaced residents. The paramilitary group, known for its brutal tactics in Sudan’s Darfur conflict, had enforced its rule on the island with young fighters wielding rocket-propelled grenades and mounted machine guns.
One resident, Abdul Fattah Abdullah, recounted being ambushed by RSF fighters while carrying vegetables from a market. He was imprisoned in a cramped room with 32 army officers for 20 days and was only released after paying a $400 ransom. “They harassed people, demanding either their gold or their money,” he said. “May God punish them.”
As Sudan’s military strengthens its hold over the capital, residents of Tuti Island hope for stability after months of oppression, though the country’s wider conflict remains far from over.