Hundreds killed in Sudan landslide, UN says. BBC Verify Live is looking at checks on video and images

EARLY this morning, BBC Verify Live's editor, Rob Corp, writes: “Our Africa specialist is looking at checks on video and images following a landslide in the Darfur region of western Sudan which local officials say has killed at least 1,000 people.”

You can read more about that story here (early version copied here below).

Note, BBC Verify uses open-source intelligence, satellite imagery, fact-checking and data analysis to help report complex stories. 

This feed is where they post their work throughout the day.

Get in touch with BBC Verify by following this link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/send/u179565631

___________________________

Report from BBC News

By James Chater

BBC News

Published Tuesday 2 September 2025, 02:59 BST

Updated around 09:00 BST - full copy:

Hundreds killed in Sudan landslide, UN says

IMAGE SOURCE, REUTERS

Image caption, More than 800,000 have fled the western Darfur region, where the landslide occurred, since conflict erupted in 2023

A landslide has killed at least 370 people in the remote Marra Mountains in western Sudan, a UN official has told the BBC.

Antoine Gérard, the UN's deputy humanitarian co-ordinator for Sudan, said that it was hard to assess the scale of the incident or the exact death toll as the area was very hard to reach.

Sudan Liberation Movement/Army, the armed group in control of the affected area, had earlier said that at least 1,000 people had died.

Days of heavy rain triggered the landslide on Sunday, which left just one survivor and "levelled" much of the village of Tarasin, the group said in a statement.

The movement has appealed for humanitarian assistance from the UN and other regional and international organisations.

Getting aid quickly to the area would be difficult, Mr Gérard said.

"We do not have helicopters, everything goes in vehicles on very bumpy roads. It takes time and it is the rainy season - sometimes we have to wait hours, maybe a day or two to cross a valley... bringing in trucks with commodities will be a challenge."

Many residents from North Darfur state had sought refuge in the Marra Mountains region, after war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) forced them from their homes.

Darfur's army-aligned governor, Minni Minnawi, called the landslide a "humanitarian tragedy".

"We appeal to international humanitarian organisations to urgently intervene and provide support and assistance at this critical moment, for the tragedy is greater than what our people can bear alone," he said in a statement quoted by the AFP news agency.

Pictures show two gullies on the side of a mountain which converge at a lower level where the village of Tarasin was.

The civil war that broke out in April 2023 between the Sudanese army and the RSF has plunged the country into famine and has led to accusations of genocide in the western Darfur region.

Estimates for the death toll from the civil war vary significantly, but a US official last year estimated up to 150,000 people had been killed since hostilities began in 2023. About 12 million have fled their homes.

Factions of the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army, which controls the area where the landslide occurred, have pledged to fight alongside the Sudanese military against the RSF.

Many Darfuris believe the RSF and allied militias have waged a war aimed at transforming the ethnically mixed region into an Arab-ruled domain.

Additional reporting by Anne Soy.

View original: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cdj2jygzzk9o

___________________________

 
SNIPPETS from Bing news search "Sudan" 12:01 BST:

AP NEWS 3hr

A landslide in Sudan’s Darfur wipes out a village, killing more than 1,000 people

A landslide has wiped out a village in Sudan's Darfur region, killing an estimated 1,000 people. A rebel group controlling ...

CBS NEWS 4h

Landslide levels village in Sudan's Darfur region, kills roughly 1,000 but one person survived, rebel group controlling area says

A landslide wiped out a village in Sudan 's Darfur region, killing an estimated 1,000 people, a rebel group controlling the ...

USA TODAY 9h

Over 1,000 killed in landslide in western Sudan village

At least 1,000 were killed in a landslide that destroyed a village in the Marra Mountains area of western Sudan, leaving only ...

FOX NEWS 2h

Landslide kills over 1,000 people and levels entire village in Sudan's Central Darfur

Devastating landslide completely levels Tarasin Village in Sudan's Central Darfur, with rebel group reporting over 1,000 deaths and only one survivor.

BBC NEWS 8h

At least 1,000 killed in Sudan landslide, rebel group says

The landslide on Sunday happened after heavy rain and "levelled" a remote mountainous village, the group says.

End

Sudan: Clashes between SLA-AW & Arab armed group in Gharb Jabal Marrah (Thur Village), Central Dafur

From Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) Sudan 
UN International Organization for Migration (IOM) - https://dtm.iom.int/
Early Warning Flash Alert
Dated Sunday, 31 December 2023 - here is a copy in full including map:

DTM Sudan Flash Alert: Conflict in Gharb Jabal Marrah (Thur Village), Central Dafur

DTM Sudan's Early Warning Flash Alerts provide immediate updates on incidents and sudden displacement in Sudan. These Flash Alerts aim to notify humanitarian partners of sudden events where DTM's Emergency Event Tracking (EET) may subsequently take place.

Update One: 31 December 2023

On 24 December 2023, clashes erupted between the Sudanese Liberation Army (SLA – Abdelwahid) and an Arab armed group in Thur village of Gharb Jabal Marrah locality, Central Darfur. Field teams reported that approximately 50 households were displaced from Nertiti Town to Golo village of Gharb Jabal Marrah locality. The situation remains tense and unpredictable. DTM is monitoring the situation closely and will provide further information on displacement and population mobility across Sudan, on a monthly basis, via its Monthly Displacement Overview.

Disclaimer: Due to the current circumstances, the DTM network is relying on remote interviews with key informants and further verification is not possible at this time.

*DTM Sudan Flash Alerts provide an initial estimation of affected population figures gathered from field reports. All information is therefore pending verification through DTM’s Emergency Event Tracking (EET) and/or registration activities and is not to be used as official figures.

VIEW IN BROWSER

ENDS

Sudan: Abdel Wahid al-Nur, leader of Darfur rebel group SLM-AW, calls for referendum before peace talks

NOTE from Sudan Watch editor: Abdel Wahid al-Nur, leader of Darfur rebel group SLM-AW, is an idiotic coward. Shortly after helping to start the Darfur war in 2003 he fled to France where he still lives comfortably in self-imposed exile. While hiding in France, he sat in a Paris hotel armchair directing the Darfur war by satellite phone. The war killed 300,000-400,000 Darfuris. His nonsensical talks are breathtaking.

News report by Sudan Tribune.com

Published Saturday 31 August 2019

SLM’s al-Nur calls for referendum on Sudan’s transitional authority before peace talks

August 30, 2019 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudan Liberation Movement led by Abdel Wahid al-Nur (SLM-AW) has called for an internationally monitored referenda on the transitional constitution and the representation of its cosignatories before to engage in peace talks.

Four months after the ouster of former President Omer al-Bashir last April, the SLM-AW for the first time and in a statement written in English made public its response to the calls from various Sudanese political forces to lay down arms and to join a national process for peace during the first six months of the transitional period.

The holdout group in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune voiced its rejection of the Political Agreement and the Constitutional Declaration signed by the Transitional Military Council and the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC), describing it "as patently illegitimate and exclusionary".

"The accord reached between the TMC and FFC is simply another new variant of a civilian rubber stamp for the soldiers, paramilitaries, secret policemen," said the statement to explain the group’s rebuke for the process.

Since last April, there were several contacts by various political FFC groups with the SLM leader in a bide to persuade the group to negotiate a lasting peace agreement after the regime change.

During the era of the Islamist regime, the SLM had only participated in the Abuja process in 2006. Since the group asks to repair the consequences of the conflict and disband the government militia accused of war crimes before to negotiate a deal addressing the root causes of the conflict.

In his nine-page statement, emailed to Sudan Tribune, al-Nur set what he called "terms and condition for conflict resolution dialogue".

"We call for preparations for a national plebiscite to be undertaken immediately for a free and transparent vote under international observation, to take place sixty days from now," he further said.

He added that Sudanese should answer by yes or no to three questions.

The first question: asks the Sudanese if they approve "the continuation of the interim government under the terms the Constitutional Declaration; the second: complete withdrawal of the militaries from the transitional authority institutions; the third: do they approve a full and immediate return to civilian rule.

The armed group went further to propose to hold elections within 90 days after the referendum on the national level. Once the national elections are conducted, regional elections for state governors will take place 60 days after.

In a briefing to the Security Council on 26 August, Jean Pierre Lacroix said the intermittent clashes continue in Jebel Marra between the Sudanese army backed by the Rapid Support Forces and the SLM fighters.

In his position paper, al-Nur added 13 other conditions before the referenda including the full withdrawal of the army and government militias from Darfur region, al-Bashir’s transfer to the International Criminal court, and release of prisoners of war and conscience.

In addition, the paper reintroduced the SLM-Aw demands for disbanding of militias, land restoration to its owners and compensation for the war-affected civilians.

President Salva Kiir has called on al-Nur to come to Juba and join consultations meetings his government is holding with the other armed groups in preparations for peace talks with the government headed by Abdallah Hamdok.

The South Sudanese initiative aims at bringing the divided armed groups to establish a one negotiating paper before to meet the Sudanese government.

Juba also consults with Sudan’s neighbouring countries particularly Egypt and Chad and seeks to involve them in this demarche.

Egypt expressed willingness to host Sudan’s peace process. (ST)

View original:  http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article68030

Eid in Sudan: 9 killed, several injured after RSF launched assault on Shangal Toubaya, North Darfur

HERE is a copy of a tweet by Samir R. Osman @samir_r_osman timestamped 4:11am and 12:11 11 Aug 2019 saying “Nine killed and several injured, on the first day of Eid-al-adha, after Janjaweed (RSF) launched an assault on ٍShangal Toubaya Village in the state of North Darfur, Western Sudan.”

Nine killed and several injured, on the first day of Eid-al-adha, after Janjaweed (RSF) launched an assault on ٍShangal Toubaya Village in the state of North Darfur, Western Sudan.#SudanUprising https://t.co/zwDmMuzDq5

— Samir R. Osman 🇸🇩 #HandsOffSudan (@samir_r_osman) 11 August 2019

To visit the above tweet click here: https://twitter.com/samir_r_osman/status/1160509039996014598

#SudanUprising

Hat tip and thanks to: Yousra Elbagir @YousraElbagir https://twitter.com/YousraElbagir/status/1160521724473106433

SUDAN WATCH UPDATE 1 - Sun 11 Aug 2019 14:42 GMT UK

9 killed (some say 12-unconfirmed) & many injured in what some say is an RSF attack, and what others say is conflict between some shepherds and the citizens in Nevasha camp in Shangel Tobai-West Darfur. The camp is now under siege by an armed force.  

SOURCE: https://twitter.com/RamadanSudan/status/1160490028344197122

SUDAN WATCH UPDATE 2 - Sun 11 Aug 2019 15:44 GMT UK

Reports coming out of the region are saying "janjaweed" launched the attack.  A name historically given to armed militias, including the rebranded RSF. Sources unable to confirm if the attackers are RSF or armed herders. 

SOURCE: https://twitter.com/YousraElbagir/status/1160552733725876231

SUDAN WATCH UPDATE 3 - Sun 11 Aug 2019 19:26 PM GMT UK

The news below was tweeted in Arabic by باهي سطيح @IsSudanNewDubai at 10:34 am on 11 Aug 2019. So, I used Google translator for an English version. The translation gives a picture of what happened. To view the Arabic tweet click here: https://twitter.com/IsSudanNewDubai/status/1160605352846614528 

Facts in the details of this incident:

An armed group of shepherds killed three farmers and wounded another displaced people west of Shangel Toby, North Darfur, 60 km southeast of Al-Fashir.

The shepherds entered their livestock farms in Shangel Tubai, and human rights activist Haitham Silva told Page News, a resident of the area, that the shepherds had been killed.

Three farmers injured, another injured during skirmishes to remove livestock from farms

The rescue tracked down the perpetrators until their logic reached their point and the two sides gathered to fight, but the mayor of the area committed to bringing the perpetrators to justice. The relatives of the dead refused to bury the bodies until the state government and the regular forces were present and separated the two sides. [Ends]

SUDAN WATCH UPDATE 4 - Mon 12 Aug 2019 12:55 GMT UK

Article by Radio Dabanga.org online

Dated Monday 12 August 12 2019 - SHANGIL TOBAYA

Herders shoot three farmers dead in North Darfur

Rizeigat camel herders in North Darfur (Albert González Farran/Unamid)

Three farmers were killed and another was wounded in a revenge attack by herdsmen in El Salam locality in North Darfur on Saturday. The farmers had removed the herders’ livestock from their farms.

“When a group of camels trespassed on farms in the neighbourhood of Dolma, 20km north of Shangil Tobaya, on Saturday morning, the farmers took the animals and handed them to the police of Shangil Tobaya,” a relative of one of the victims told Radio Dabanga.

“That evening, about 20 armed herdsmen on camels and four others on motorcycles arrived at the area, and immediately started shooting at the farmers present. Abdelrahman Saleh, Ahmed El Nur, and Ali Yahya died instantly. Adam Abdelshakour was wounded.”

The Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) in North Darfur condemned the killing in a statement on Sunday.

The FFC members called on the acting state governor “to fully play your role in protecting unarmed civilians and agricultural land”. They proposed the establishment of a joint team of regular forces tasked with protecting farmers and people living in the area from such attacks. The herders should graze their livestock at pastures defined in the state maps.

The North Darfur activists also proposed the establishment of an independent committee to investigate the crimes committed by militant herders and other gunmen in the state in the past years.

The area of Shangil Tobaya (OCHA map of North Darfur)

View the original article here: https://www.dabangasudan.org/en/all-news/article/herders-shoot-three-farmers-dead-in-north-darfur

SUDAN WATCH UPDATE 5 - Mon 12 Aug 2019 13:26 GMT UK

Here is a copy of a tweet by Prof Eric Reeves @sudanreeves dated 14:06 11 Aug 2019: “This map indicates where violence in North #Darfur has been most concentrated over much of the past two years (Jan 2017 - March 2019). There has been especially intense violence just north of Shangil Tobaya, but much of North and Central Darfur have seen seen genocidal violence”

This map indicates where violence in North #Darfur has been most concentrated over much of the past two years (Jan 2017 - March 2019). There has been especially intense violence just north of Shangil Tobaya, but much of North and Central Darfur have seen seen genocidal violence: pic.twitter.com/XTbCuGd5u1

— Eric Reeves (@sudanreeves) 11 August 2019

To visit the tweet click here: https://twitter.com/sudanreeves/status/1160538001598046209

SUDAN WATCH UPDATE 6 - Mon 12 Aug 2019 13:50 GMT UK

Article from The National.ae

Written by Agence France-Presse (AFP)

Dated Monday 12 August 2019 11:06 AM

Clashes kill 3 civilians in Sudan's Darfur

Violence over grazing land, one of the causes of the war that erupted in 2003, had been rare in Darfur recently

Photo: Sudanese villagers walk in the war-torn town of Golo in the thickly forested mountainous area of Jebel Marra in central Darfur on June 19, 2017. AFP PHOTO/ASHRAF SHAZLY

Clashes over pasture between farmers and herders in Sudan's western region of Darfur killed three civilians on Sunday, a doctors' committee linked to the country's protest movement said.

"Three citizens were killed this morning in Shengel Tobay, in North Darfur state, and another was wounded," the Central Committee of Sudan Doctors said.

Violence over grazing land, which was one of the root causes of a deadly war that erupted in 2003, has been relatively rare in Darfur recently.

The latest incident marred the first day of the Eid Al Adha and was Sudan's first since months of protests brought down longtime ruler Omar Al Bashir and created an opportunity for civilian rule.

Ethnic African rebels took up arms against Mr Al Bashir's regime, which they accused of marginalising the remote region, in the war that broke out more than 15 years ago.

Khartoum armed Arab pastoralists to quash the rebellion, leading to massacres that resulted in genocide charges against Mr Al Bashir and others in international courts.

While the fighting has subsided in Darfur, tension over pasture remains and those responsible for the war's darkest hours have not been brought to justice.

"The former regime fuelled the conflict and contributed to deepening the crisis by not helping to provide sustainable solutions, and not holding perpetrators accountable," the doctors committee said.

Mr Al Bashir was removed in April after 29 years in power and a temporary power-sharing agreement was reached a week ago by the country's generals and civilian protest leaders.

But the document that will serve as Sudan's de facto interim constitution does not mention the fate of Mr Al Bashir and others wanted by the International Criminal Court.

View original article here: https://www.thenational.ae/world/africa/clashes-kill-3-civilians-in-sudan-s-darfur-1.897180

SUDAN WATCH UPDATE 7 - Mon 12 Aug 2019 14:07 GMT UK

Here is a copy of a tweet by Prof Eric Reeves @sudanreeves “Shangil Tobaya has been one of the most ravaged areas of North Darfur over the past several years (see monograph at https://wp.me/p45rOG-2qm ). It is clear that #Hemeti, the #RSF, and the #TMC have no desire or will to rein in ethnically-targeted murder, rape, and destruction: https://twitter.com/samir_r_osman/status/1160509039996014598 

Shangil Tobaya has been one of the most ravaged areas of North Darfur over the past several years (see monograph at | https://t.co/Wt2Fq7G4mf ). It is clear that #Hemeti, the #RSF, and the #TMC have no desire or will to rein in ethnically-targeted murder, rape, and destruction: https://t.co/y0jLcn7xep

— Eric Reeves (@sudanreeves) 11 August 2019

To visit the above tweet click here: https://twitter.com/sudanreeves/status/1160534886501031936

SUDAN WATCH UPDATE 8 - Tue 13 Aug 2019 11:39 GMT UK

Here is a copy of a tweet posted by Tariq Haleeb on his Twitter page @TariqHaleeb date stamped 3:10 am 12 Aug 2019:

1. Janjaweed were armed herders & still continue familial ties.

2. A simple armed shepard has enough ammunition for defence only.

3. To launch and sustain an attack needs a lot of ammunition which a simple shepard cannot buy.

1. Janjaweed were armed herders & still continue familial ties.
2. A simple armed shepard has enough ammunition for defence only.
3. To launch and sustain an attack needs a lot of ammunition which a simple shepard cannot buy.@ilovegofraan

— Tariq Haleeb (@TariqHaleeb) 12 August 2019

To visit the above tweet click here: https://twitter.com/TariqHaleeb/status/1160856157491257344

SUDAN WATCH UPDATE 9 - Fri 16 Aug 2019 14:02 GMT UK

Here is a copy of a 15 August 2019 tweet by Eric Reeves @sudanreeves

- with a great map (explanation here: http://sudanreeves.org/2019/06/28/unamid-withdrawal-and-international-abandonment-violence-in-darfur-2017-2019-a-statistical-analysis/) - showing violence in North Darfur, January 1, 2017 - March 2019 - saying, “The new TMC-appointed governor of North #Darfur lies just as shamelessly as his political predecessor. There has been no meaningful effort to bring marauding Arab militia forces or #Hemeti’s Rapid Support Forces under control; their ethnically-targeted violence is unrelenting:”

The new TMC-appointed governor of North #Darfur lies just as shamelessly as his political predecessor. There has been no meaningful effort to bring marauding Arab militia forces or #Hemeti’s Rapid Support Forces under control; their ethnically-targeted violence is unrelenting: pic.twitter.com/xeZ8VnVfuu

— Eric Reeves (@sudanreeves) 15 August 2019

To visit the above tweet click here: https://twitter.com/sudanreeves/status/1162040001460350977 

Further Reading

Film: MEET THE JANJAWEED - Hemedti is positioning himself as paramilitary ruler of Darfur (Alex de Waal)

Sudan Watch - Tuesday, August 13, 2019

https://sudanwatch.blogspot.com/2019/08/film-meet-janjaweed-hemedti-is.html