Ankara: More than 150 young men and children were kidnapped by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in South Kordofan state, a Sudanese medical group said Tuesday. The Sudan Doctors Network reported that RSF militants, along with allied forces from the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM)'s al-Hilou faction, attacked the Al-Zallataya mine in Al-Abbasiya, located northeast of South Kordofan. This incident marked the first major breach of a unilateral humanitarian truce declared by the rebel group.

According to Anadolu Agency, RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo announced on Monday that his forces and allied groups had agreed to an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, which includes a halt to all hostile actions for three months. Despite this announcement, the medical group stated that "more than 150 young men and underage children were forcibly abducted for the purpose of recruitment, in a direct assault on civilians that amounts to war crimes and grave violations of international humanitarian law."

The Sudan Doctors Network also highlighted that another forced recruitment operation had been initiated by the RSF in the same town, accompanied by looting activities targeting the town and its marketplace. The group has held the SPLM and RSF fully accountable for the abductions and has urged the international community and relevant regional bodies to intervene immediately to halt RSF violations in the region.

The conflict between the Sudanese army and the RSF began in April 2023 and has continued despite regional and international efforts to mediate a resolution. The ongoing war has resulted in the deaths of thousands and the displacement of millions.