The Sudanese Foreign Ministry accused the "Rapid Support Forces" last night, Friday, of committing a "massacre" in the Sunar state (southeast) a few days ago, resulting in the deaths of 85 civilians and injuries to 153 others.

The ministry said in a statement: "While the so-called Geneva talks (have been ongoing since Wednesday) with the participation of the Rapid Support Militia, details of a horrific massacre committed by them in the village of Galngi, in Sunar state, on August 10, have emerged," according to the Anadolu Agency.

It added: "The number of victims of this massacre was about 85 dead and 153 injured, including children from Quranic school students in the area."

The ministry continued: "The Rapid Support Forces committed this heinous massacre after they opened fire indiscriminately on the unarmed villagers, as punishment for their resistance."

The ministry did not clarify in its statement the reason for the delay in announcing this incident, but communications and internet services are cut off in wide areas of Sunar state, where the "Rapid Support Forces" control parts of it.

The ministry also accused members of the Rapid Support Forces of "kidnapping several girls from the village and sexually assaulting them."

It also accused the Rapid Support Forces of "refusing to allow the families of the dead to bury them."

The ministry stated in its statement that it "demands the international community, especially those currently gathering in Geneva and discussing peace negotiations with the militia (Rapid Support Forces), to condemn this terrorist crime and take necessary actions towards it as it is a terrorist organization responsible for crimes against humanity."

Without the participation of the government delegation, talks about Sudan began in Geneva last Wednesday, in response to a U.S. invitation issued on July 23.

Since mid-April 2023, the Sudanese army and the "Rapid Support Forces" have been engaged in a war that has left approximately 18,800 dead and nearly 10 million displaced or refugees, according to the United Nations.

There are increasing UN and international calls to end the war to spare Sudan a humanitarian disaster that is starting to push millions into starvation and death due to food shortages caused by fighting that has spread to 13 out of 18 states.