Fighting has shaken several cities in western Sudan today, Wednesday, in an expansion of the conflict that has been ongoing for nearly two months in the country, while the number of people who have fled their homes due to the violence has surpassed one million. The conflict between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has led to a humanitarian crisis in the capital Khartoum and in other cities such as El Obeid, Nyala, El Fasher, and Geneina. Estimates indicate that over 1,100 people have been killed due to the fighting in these cities.
In an interview with Al-Hadath TV from Geneina, the governor of West Darfur, Khames Abkar, called on the international community to intervene in what he described as "genocide." Gunfire and artillery shelling could be heard in the background as he spoke. He stated, "Today, citizens are being killed in a very random and large manner." He emphasized that while the Rapid Support Forces and allied militias initially targeted areas in Geneina where members of the Massalit tribe reside, these attacks have now spread to the entire city. He added, "We have not seen the armed forces leave their barracks at least to defend the citizens."
The Rapid Support Forces described the fighting in Geneina as a tribal conflict in a statement and accused the former Sudanese regime of fueling the flames of strife. The forces stated that they are making efforts to bring aid to the city. Diplomatic efforts led by the United States and Saudi Arabia have stalled with multiple ceasefire agreements being violated. Senior officials in the U.S. State Department indicated that they are considering a new approach in the coming days.
Fighting across Darfur
The Darfur Bar Association, a local group monitoring the violence, reported today that artillery shelling hit civilian homes in Nyala, the capital of South Darfur and one of the largest cities in Sudan, adding that Rapid Support Forces members complained about not receiving their salaries. The association stated that the city of Zalingei, the capital of Central Darfur, is under siege. The city of El Fasher, capital of North Darfur, is relatively calm, but the city of Kutum, controlled by the Rapid Support Forces, is experiencing a wave of displacement.
Residents in the city of El Obeid, located between Khartoum and Darfur, noted that the army has begun launching air strikes and artillery bombardments on positions belonging to the Rapid Support Forces. The Rapid Support Forces have control over the roads branching out from the city and have agreed with local tribal leaders to secure the area from armed gangs.
Inside Khartoum, residents reported air strikes and artillery fire in the southern and eastern neighborhoods of the city today. The United Nations stated late on Tuesday that about 1.7 million people are internally displaced, while over 500,000 people have fled the country. The city of Port Sudan is under army control. Overlooking the Red Sea, it remains calm and is one of the destinations for those fleeing their homes.
Preparatory school exams began in Port Sudan today, and pilgrims started leaving for Mecca to perform the Hajj as some Sudanese try to enjoy a semblance of normal life amid a conflict that has turned their lives upside down. The Sudanese Doctors' Syndicate's preliminary committee reported that 958 people have been killed since fighting began on April 15, stemming from a dispute over a plan to integrate the Rapid Support Forces into the army. The committee added, "More casualties are being accounted for."
