The Government of Sudan has issued a strong condemnation of what it describes as a “campaign of terror and genocide” by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the city of El Fasher, North Darfur, in one of the most violent escalations of the country’s internal conflict in recent months.
According to a press statement released by Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the RSF has launched a series of coordinated assaults targeting both civilian residential areas and camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs), including the Zamzam and Abu Shouk camps.
These attacks, carried out over recent days, have reportedly resulted in the deaths of approximately 450 civilians, many of whom were women and children.
Among the fatalities were at least nine humanitarian workers and medical personnel.
The Sudanese government characterized the attacks as a “grave breach of international humanitarian law” and a direct violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2736, which outlines the protection of civilians in conflict zones.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that these actions contravene the Geneva Conventions, which obligate all parties in an armed conflict to protect non-combatants and ensure access to humanitarian aid.
This most recent wave of violence is part of a broader and ongoing conflict that erupted in April 2023, when tensions between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF exploded into open warfare, devastating the capital Khartoum and spreading to other regions.
Darfur, long a flashpoint for ethnic and political violence, has once again become a battlefield.
The RSF, which originated from the notorious Janjaweed militias implicated in earlier atrocities in Darfur during the early 2000s, has been accused of repeated violations of human rights and international law.
The Ministry’s statement also pointed to the continued logistical and material support allegedly received by the RSF from regional backers, urging the international community to impose sanctions on those aiding the militia.
“Impunity and leniency will only embolden the militia and its sponsors to continue their heinous crimes,” the statement warned.
In an appeal to the global community, Sudan called on “sisterly and friendly nations,” regional alliances, and international organizations to take a firm stand against the RSF’s actions and support the Sudanese population during what it described as a critical moment.
The government reaffirmed its dedication to working with international partners to end the siege of El Fasher and facilitate the safe delivery of humanitarian aid.
The besieged city of El Fasher, one of the few areas in Darfur still under government control, has become a refuge for thousands fleeing other parts of the region.
However, the RSF’s encirclement of the city has cut off essential supply routes, worsening the humanitarian crisis. International NGOs and UN agencies have expressed concern about the increasing difficulty of reaching civilians trapped in the area.
–BY Issah Olegor
