In brief
A senior UN official has expressed serious concern regarding escalating violence in Sudan, particularly in Gezira state, where recent attacks by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have reportedly led to numerous civilian deaths. The conflict, which has displaced millions, sparks urgent calls for humanitarian action.
As the conflict in Sudan intensifies, a senior UN official has voiced alarm over the rapid deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the central Gezira state. Clementine Nkweta-Salami, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, shared her grave concerns regarding reports of "atrocious crimes," including mass killings conducted by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Activist sources claim that at least 124 people have been killed in a series of assaults on villages over the past week, prompting widespread outcry.The RSF has refuted allegations of targeting civilians, asserting that its forces are engaged in confrontations with militias backed by the military. The ongoing conflict, which erupted in April 2023, has already claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced over 11 million individuals.Recent developments escalated following the defection of an RSF commander, Abu Aqla Kayka, to the military, which the army claims was a significant blow to the RSF’s operational capabilities. This shift has provoked a retaliatory stance from the RSF, declaring its intent to protect itself and systematically confront any armed opposition.Nkweta-Salami noted that preliminary reports indicate a significant RSF offensive took place between October 20 and 25, marked by atrocities including mass killings, extensive looting, sexual violence against women and girls, and the destruction of vital agricultural resources. The scale of violence reported parallels that of the horrific events seen in Sudan's Darfur region, where the RSF has previously faced accusations of ethnic cleansing.In a statement over the weekend, the Wad Madani Resistance Committee condemned the RSF for ongoing "extensive massacres" in multiple villages. Meanwhile, the Sudanese doctors' union has called on the UN to facilitate safe humanitarian corridors to severely affected villages, highlighting the dire need for rescue operations and stating that the army is "incapable" of ensuring civilian safety.The roots of the ongoing strife can be traced back to a fallout between the RSF and the military commanders, Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo and Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, following a coup in 2021 that undermined Sudan's democratic transition. Despite international diplomatic efforts, including mediation by the US and Saudi Arabia, both leaders have refused to agree on a peace settlement, aggravating the humanitarian crisis across the nation.
