Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are ousting the army from military bases across the western Darfur region, leading to fears the country will be split in a similar way to neighboring Libya, which is ruled by rival governments. Even as the RSF has engaged in talks with the army in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah, the group has launched attacks on the capitals of three of Darfur’s five states, leading to mass displacement and large civilian casualties. Last month, it took full control over Nyala and Zalingei (the capitals of South Darfur and Central Darfur), while last week it seized the main army base in West Darfur’s El Geneina. Over 1,000 people from the Masalit ethnic group were reportedly killed by RSF and allied militia fighters during the West Darfur takeover, which may amount to the worst civilian atrocity since Sudan’s current war erupted on April 15. RSF leaders are now threatening to seize El Fasher in North Darfur, which has been a safe haven in recent months, and has attracted hundreds of thousands of displaced people.
From The New Humanitarian, Nov. 10
Map: PCL
EU warns of potential genocide in Sudan
The European Union on Nov. 12 issued a stern condemnation regarding the escalating violence at reports of atrocities in Sudan’s Darfur region. The EU expressed deep concern over the potential for “another genocide.” (Jurist)
UN Security Council votes to end Sudan mission
The UN Security Council voted to end the ongoing political mission in Sudan on Dec. 1. This follows claims by Sudan’s military government that the mission failed to meet expectations. The UN Integrated Transitional Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) was established in June 2020 to support the transition toward democratic rule. (Jurist)
Surprise collapse of Sudan’s army in Al-Jazirah state
In a matter of days, the Sudanese state of Al-Jazirah fell to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which the UN and human rights monitors have directly linked to mass killings targeting ethnic groups elsewhere in the country. The way the Sudanese national army vanished from the state capital of Wad Madani has some experts concerned that the RSF could overrun the whole country, with potentially huge effects on regional security. (PRI)
International aid organizations suspend operations in Sudan
Two international aid organizations, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) International and the UN World Food Programme (WFP), announced Dec. 28 that they were forced to suspend operations in Sudan after their facilities were looted in the midst of escalating conflict between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the country’s army. (Jurist)
Sudan peace talks fall apart
The Sudanese regime of Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has boycotted peace talks convened by the regional bloc IGAD. It accused IGAD of “violating” the country’s sovereignty by inviting Mohamed Hamdan “Hemeti” Dagalo, the leader of the rival Rapid Support Forces, to the summit. Al-Burhan has been angered by Dagalo’s growing diplomatic profile. (TNH)