April-July 2023 

On April 15, 2023, the RSF took over the Republican Palace Museum in Khartoum, Sudan.  The museum, located within the Presidential Palace, houses a main hall, an old car gallery, and a library with valuable archives, all of which were put at risk. The full extent of damage or theft remains unclear. Additionally, the nearby old palace sustained damage to its facade. The museum has been closed since December 2019 and was guarded by 10-20 soldiers at the time of the attack. This action was part of the RSF’s broader strategy of destruction and destabilization in Sudan.

Between April 17 and April 20, 2023, the Sudan National Museum in Khartoum was damaged, reportedly by the RSF. The museum, which houses a significant collection of Nubian artifacts and architectural elements, sustained damage to two critical structures: one housing the ancient Egyptian Temple of Buhen and another containing a segment of the Temple of Aksha’s wall. The destruction of such a large museum with irreplaceable collections has significant implications for Sudan’s cultural heritage and the broader archaeological heritage of North Africa.

On May 6, 2023, a devastating fire engulfed the Industrial Research and Consultation Centre (IRCC) in Khartoum, Sudan, allegedly caused by the RSF. The fire led to the destruction of critical research data, reports, and the facility itself. The IRCC was a vital institution that conducted research, provided feasibility studies, performed physical and chemical testing on materials, issued quality certifications, offered industrial training and guidance, and supported technology transfer and localization efforts. Since 2020, it has held the UNESCO Chair for Technology Transfer in Sudan.

On May 16, 2023, a fire set by looters (unknown) destroyed the archives at the Muhammad Omar Bashir Centre for Sudanese Studies at Omdurman Ahlia University in Omdurman, Sudan. The archives held one of the largest collections of historical, political, and cultural documents in the country. According to Al-Mutassim Ahmed Al-Hajj, the head of the Centre, the looting lasted for 10 days, and the fire obliterated the archive’s contents, leaving only scorched bookholders and shelves. Al-Hajj described the incident as a deliberate attempt to damage the private university, a key institution of higher education in Sudan. The attack occurred in an area controlled by the RSF, and despite the Centre notifying the RSF about the looting, no intervention was made.

On June 2, 2023, the M Bolheim Bioarchaeology Laboratory in Khartoum, Sudan, was raided by RSF fighters. The laboratory displayed ancient human remains dating back to around 3300-3000 BCE, including artifacts from the Kerma culture and the Kingdom of Kush. The soldiers looted the site, falsely claiming the remains were victims of former president Omar al-Bashir’s regime and referring to them as "the work of kayzan" (a term for Bashir's supporters). Established in 2019 by Sudan's National Corporation for Antiquities and Museums in partnership with the British Museum, the laboratory became a target of mockery by the RSF, who called the remains “corpses” and stated, "fear will be buried”.

On June 14, 2023, the Abdul Karim Mirghani Center in Omdurman, Sudan, was ransacked by the RSF. Established in May 1998, the center houses a library, research facilities, a theater, and an archive containing audiovisual materials such as CDs and cassettes. It also includes a publishing unit. Before the conflict, the center was actively engaged in digitizing the historical records of Sudan's labor movement.

On July 5, 2023, Saraya Al-Sharif Al-Hindi, a historically significant religious and cultural site in Khartoum's Berri Al-Lamab area, was reported to have collapsed amid armed clashes. Constructed in the early 20th century by Al-Sharif Yusuf Al-Hindi, a prominent anti-colonial leader, the site has served as a key religious center, housing the tombs of figures like Al-Sharif Hussein Al-Hindi and Al-Sharif Zain Al-Abidin Al-Hindi. The complex included reception halls, religious schoolrooms, and a sacred well. Its destruction marks a significant cultural and historical loss for the region.

 

August-December 2023

On November 6, 2023, the RSF targeted the Anglican Church in Omdurman, Khartoum. The church was shared by Episcopal and Evangelical congregations and is the second oldest Christian church in Omdurman, dating to the early 1900s. The interior of the church was gutted and burned. No people were harmed in the attack.  

Between December 18, 2023, when the RSF seized control of the Gezira state, and January 3, 2024, RSF forces looted the University of Gezira (Al-Jazirah University). The RSF looted university administration, academic affairs, student affairs, and dean’s offices. The University’s savings bank, farm, International Hall, and associated institutions of learning were also ransacked. RSF members also looted professors’ homes in the nearby Nashishiba neighborhood, Hantoub, and Abu Haraz areas. RSF commanders have denied these accusations, although eye-witness accounts and reports from residents corroborate these claims, and added that RSF commanders demanded the recruitment of young men when approached.

 

January-April 2024

On January 13, 2024, the Evangelical Church in Wad Madani, Gezira State, Sudan, was set on fire and partially destroyed by members of the RSF. Established in 1939, the church—a historical landmark—suffered extensive damage, including the destruction of its main hall and library, which contained rare documents. The attack occurred while the church was unoccupied, and it is believed that the RSF, who controlled the area, was aware of and approved the attack (Sudan Tribune 2024). 

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On February 3, 2024, the RSF looted Nyala University in South Darfur, Sudan. During the attack, the university's library was ransacked and destroyed.

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On February 25, 2024, RSF members desecrated the main mosque in Aburof, Omdurman. The mosque's interior was vandalized, and the building was used as a fighting base, with looted goods stored inside. A tuk-tuk was even parked in the prayer hall.14

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On March 12, 2024, SAF General Al-Burhan ordered a technical team to recover Sudan's damaged national radio, television, and cinema archives in Omdurman, Sudan, which had been vandalized, allegedly by the RSF. The collected archive materials were placed in front of the gates, but no details were provided about the collection process or where the materials were relocated.

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On April 1, 2024, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) looted the Khalifa House Museum in Omdurman, Sudan, stealing valuable artifacts and causing extensive damage to this UNESCO World Heritage site. A committee, including officials from the Antiquities Authority and Khalifa Abdullah’s family, was formed to assess the damage. The Governor of Khartoum, Mr. Ahmed Osman Hamza, described the attack as a deliberate crime against Sudan’s history. The looting of museums has led to concern that the RSF is utilizing the sale of trafficked antiquities as a source of funding, as images of looted antiquities from Sudan appear on internet marketplaces.

 

May-August 2024

On June 23, 2024, the RSF shelled the El Tijaniya Sufi mosque, its Quran school, and charity kitchen in the El Tijaniya neighborhood of El Fasher in North Darfur. Residents had taken shelter in the mosque, and the shelling resulted in the deaths of nine children and injuries to at least twelve other civilians, including children and infants. The shelling of the El Tijaniya neighborhood was part of a wider strategy by the RSF to gain control over El Fasher, one of the last remaining areas held under SAF control. 

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On July 23, 2024, RSF forces looted the University of Gezira (Al-Jazirah University) in the city of Wad Madani in Gezira state. The RSF stole medical equipment and heavily vandalized the Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Laboratories. This is the second time the University was severely looted and damaged in 2024, after the first reports in January.  

 

September-December 2024

On September 2, 2024, the RSF looted the National Museum of Sudan in Khartoum. Satellite images reportedly show trucks transporting looted artifacts into South Sudan. The exact items taken remain unclear, as it is unsafe for staff to conduct inventory. This looting raises security concerns due to the illegal trade of antiquities, often used to fund armed groups, prompting UNESCO to issue warnings about trafficked objects.

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On September 26, 2024, the Abu Safita mosque in El Fasher, Darfur, was damaged by artillery fire from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The mosque, located in an area under Sudanese Army control (13.622568, 25.354281), was targeted as the RSF advanced toward the headquarters of the 6th Division.

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On October 23, 2024, the SAF dropped barrel bombs on the Sheikh El Jeili Mosque in Wad Madani, Gezira State, after evening prayers. The attack, amidst rising tensions between SAF and the RSF, resulted in at least 31 casualties with 15 identified victims. Dozens of body parts remain unidentifiable. The strike came following the defection of the RSF’s former commander in Al Jazirah state to the army.

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From October 20-29, 2024, the RSF continued their revenge campaign in East Al Jazirah, Central Sudan. The RSF attacked Al Hilaliya, killing five people and trapping residents in mosques. This followed the defection of RSF commander Abu Aqla Kikal to the army on October 20. On October 21, the RSF attacked Al-Jaqoqab village, executing the mosque imam and his son, and forcing residents to flee.

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On November 18, 2024, the RSF shelled Al-Rashad Mosque in Omdurman during evening prayers, killing five civilians and injuring several others, including children. The mosque's Imam was severely injured, losing his leg. The escalation of fighting and shelling in the area is part of the RSF's attempt to gain control of the capital city.