Attacks on Burush village, North Darfur

Between 25 and 26 January 2025, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their allied militia allegedly carried out multiple attacks on Burush village in the Um Kadada locality, approximately 187 kilometres east of El Fasher. CIR verified footage showing bodies in a trench southwest of Burush village, counting at least 28 bodies, and confirmed an active fire on satellite imagery on 25 January. In addition, Planet satellite imagery showed new fire damage appeared across Burush village between 25 and 26 January, as well as what appear to be new graves in the cemetery confirming people were buried following the attack.  Social media accounts claimed that the Popular Resistance defeated the RSF and/or allied forces in Burush, CIR could not confirm this. 

The attacks appear to be part of a new wave of violence across North Darfur. In a statement posted on Telegram on 20 January, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) threatened to attack El Fasher within 48 hours unless the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and their allies surrendered. On 24 January 2025, Sudan Tribune reported that the RSF attacked El Fasher. 

Footage emerges from Burush showing bodies in trenches

On 26 January, a pro-SAF account posted a video to X showing men in RSF, and RSF affiliated uniforms, walking through a trench full of bodies in civilian clothing. A man wearing a uniform with an RSF patch claims that there are a total of 150 bodies along the full length of the trench. CIR identified at least 25 bodies in the video, and geolocated the footage to a trench southwest of Burush village (figure 1). Although CIR could not independently confirm the exact date the video was taken, the man in the video claimed that it is the 25 January. Planet satellite imagery indicated that the trench was dug some time between November 2023 and January 2024, which implies that the trench might have been constructed as part of defensive positioning.

On 27 January, a pro-SAF account posted another video to Facebook showing men in uniform resembling that of the RSF and/or allied forces driving a vehicle alongside the trench. At least seven other combat vehicles with fighters inside are also seen driving nearby. 

CIR geolocated the footage to a location southeast of the first video, confirming the video shows the same trench (figure 2). At least three additional bodies can be seen lying in the trench and beside it. 

CIR assessed that the video was likely filmed on the same day as the first video at a slightly earlier time of day. Analysis of shadows using SunCalc suggests that the first video was filmed between approximately 11:00 and 12:00 UTC+2m, while the second piece of footage was taken between approximately 10:00 and 11:00 GMT+2, according to SunCalc. 

Fire damage in multiple residential areas

The village suffered fire damage in the attacks. CIR identified an active fire in the west of Burush on Planet satellite imagery on 25 January, indicating that clashes began in the morning of that date. NASA Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS) heat signatures appeared over the village at 12:36 GMT+2 the same day. Planet satellite imagery from 26 January showed new burn scars across the village in multiple residential areas, including at the site of the active fire. High resolution Planet satellite imagery from 29 January showed that at least 20 buildings were burnt to the ground between 25 and 26 January (figure 3).

Households displaced and dozens reportedly killed following clashes

In a statement published on 25 January, the International Organisation for Migration’s Displacement Matrix estimated that 30 households were displaced from Burush as a result of the attacks. Darfur24 reported that at least 80 people were killed during the clashes, quoting figures from Director General of the Ministry of Health in North Darfur State, Ibrahim Abdullah Khater.

High resolution Planet satellite imagery from 30 January showed what appear to be new graves in Burush cemetery that appear on 26 January, confirming people were buried after the attack (figure 4). 

Attribution

As stated earlier, CIR identified men wearing RSF and/or allied militia uniforms in footage related to the incidents in Burush. This indicates that the RSF and/or allied militia were likely responsible for the killings.

It is not clear if the RSF maintained control of the village following the attacks. On 25 January, a pro-SAF account posted a video to Facebook showing crowds of people in civilian clothing celebrating, some of whom are armed. People in the footage claim that the Popular Resistance in Burush defeated the RSF:

“Burush the resilience, today in Burush, even though we lost martyrs. But we’re happy we won against the oppressors. The youth of Burush are resilient. […] (Man in the background says: the RSF have run away). […] This victory is a gift to all Sudan, Burhan […].”

CIR geolocated the footage to the centre of Burush village and assessed that it was likely taken on 25 January. Analysis of shadows using SunCalc suggested that the video was filmed between approximately 15:30 and 16:30 UTC+2. 

Another video posted by a pro-SAF journalist to Facebook on 25 January portrays a different angle of the same scene. The same pro-SAF journalist posted to X stating that the Popular Resistance in Burush defeated the RSF and seized two combat vehicles from the militia. 

Together, this suggests that the videos were posted after the footage of the trenches. However, CIR cannot confirm the outcome of the clashes between the RSF and the Popular Resistance. CIR will continue to monitor the situation in El Fasher and nearby settlements and its impact on civilians.