Sudan Witness observed the first signs of a campaign against the Kanabi in late October. On 24 October, a pro-SAF account shared a video to X that was filmed by an RSF fighter in Al Sereiha, Gezira. Sudan Witness verified the footage, which was filmed in the aftermath of the RSF’s attack on the village. The caption of the video reads:
“With the help of the sons of the Kanabi neighbouring Al Sereiha, the man in Kadamol and pointing at the mosque is one of the sons of the Kanabi who lived in and among the people of the Town.”
This implies that the fighter filming the video was an insider from the Kanabi collaborating with the RSF. This post gained significant traction, generating over 119,000 views.
In another example from 3 November, a pro-SAF account shared a video to X that was allegedly filmed by an RSF fighter in Rufa’a, Gezira, showing a line of people carrying items over their heads and walking in the opposite direction. The caption of the post states:
“The video shows Kanabi residents looting what remains of civilian properties in the eastern parts of Gezira. […] Gezira was betrayed by the Kanabi neighbourhoods, Khartoum was betrayed by the slum neighbourhoods.”
This post was also shared widely, receiving over 115,000 views.
Several pro-SAF X accounts then falsely claimed that the Kanabi Congress– which represents and demands equal opportunities for Kanabi communities– officially aligned with the RSF. The posts also claimed that Jafar Mohamadain, the Secretary General of the Kanabi Congress, issued a statement declaring his support for the paramilitary group.
Doctored images were shared to boost the claims. On 8 November, a pro-SAF account shared a post featuring a screenshot of a news article claiming that Mohamada pledged his support for the RSF. Sudan Witness verified that the captioned photo was in fact created by Khartoum 1821, a pro-SAF news Facebook page, and first posted on 18 August 2023.
On a live stream on Facebook on 8 November, Hassabo Dafallah Al Sinnari, a pro-SAF influencer, repeated the claim: “The Secretary General [of the Kanabi Congress] announced he is joining the RSF. Screw the Kanabi, […] Any [camp] inside Gezira, [if] this statement represents you, and you act stupid, you will be beaten.”
Mohamadain strongly denied supporting either the SAF or RSF and condemned incitement of violence against the Kanabi people. In a statement on Facebook, he said:
“We, at the Kanabi Congress, have not issued any statement of endorsement or support for any party. We confirm that this fabricated statement represents the despicable, cowardly, and racist, live streamer, […] which represents part of the fierce campaign he is waging against the people of the Kanabi. We hold responsible for any criminal act against the residents of the Kanabi, those who promote sedition and incitement against the residents of the Kanabi. We demand that the racist Hassabo Dafallah Al Sinnari be arrested and held accountable.”
The seemingly coordinated campaign of hate speech, which was bolstered by recycled and misleading content, heightens the risk of violence and retaliation against an already vulnerable community. By attributing RSF violations to the Kanabi and other groups in the country and labelling them as collaborators, these narratives put marginalised communities at risk of ethnically targeted violence and arbitrary arrests.
On 15 December, Sudan War Monitor reported that the Kanabi Congress stated that the SAF carried out an attack on the Sabaa Wad Hamid camp, in the Al-Managil locality, Gezira on 4 December “under the influence of hate speech,” Radio Dabanga broadcast a call with Mohamadain on 15 December in which he accused SAF allies of killing 70 of its residents in Gezira. At the time of writing, Sudan Witness has not verified these claims. Sudan Witness will continue to monitor and investigate social media content relating to the reports.
