Expanding of Sudan’s nearly two-month-old war, intense fighting erupted in multiple cities
across western Sudan on Wednesday.
On Wednesday, intense fighting erupted in multiple cities across western Sudan, expanding the scope of Sudan’s nearly two-month-old war a regional governor lost his life after openly holding the country’s paramilitary force responsible for the civilian casualties.
Conflict between Army and RSF in Sudan
The ongoing conflict between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has given rise to a severe humanitarian crisis, impacting not only Khartoum but also significant urban centers in the Kordofan and Darfur regions.
The escalation of the conflict presents a grave concern as it has the potential to prolong the violence and attract involvement from armed groups, particularly those aligned with tribal associations, as well as external actors.
Shortly after accusing RSF
West Darfur state governor Khamis Abbakar, who commanded an armed group, was reported killed on Wednesday. This incident occurred shortly after he publicly accused the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and affiliated militias of committing “genocide.” Currently, no specific details regarding his death are available. However, two government sources have attributed responsibility to the RSF.
On Wednesday, West Darfur state governor Khamis Abbakar expressed grave concern over the indiscriminate and significant loss of civilian lives. In an interview with Al-Hadath TV, he emphasized the urgent need for international intervention to address the escalating crisis and protect the civilian population.
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have not provided an immediate response to a request for comment regarding the situation.
According to activists, since the onset of the conflict in mid-April, approximately 1,100 individuals have lost their lives. The violence initially erupted in El Geneina, the westernmost city and the capital of West Darfur.
Initially attacked specific areas of El Geneina
The initial attacks primarily targeted specific areas of El Geneina where members of the Masalit tribe resided. However, the governor highlighted that these attacks have now expanded to encompass the entire city. “we have not witnessed the army taking active measures to protect the civilian population,”
the governor stated before his untimely demise.
Conflict since early 2000s
Since the early 2000s, the Darfur region of Sudan has been marred by recurrent episodes of conflict. During this time, millions of people were forcibly displaced, and approximately 300,000 lives were lost due to attacks carried out by Arab militias, commonly referred to as the Janjaweed. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) emerged from these militia groups and were officially incorporated into the Sudanese government as a legalized paramilitary force in 2017.
Characterized as Tribal dispute
In an official statement, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) characterized the ongoing conflict in El Geneina as a tribal dispute, attributing the escalation to the actions of the country’s previous regime. The RSF acknowledged its efforts to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the affected city.
May try different approach – U.S
Despite diplomatic efforts led by the United States and Saudi Arabia to address the conflict in Sudan, progress has been hindered by repeated violations of ceasefires. On Tuesday, senior officials from the U.S. State Department revealed that they are contemplating a fresh approach to tackle the situation in the days ahead.
According to the Darfur Bar Association, a local organization actively monitoring the ongoing conflict, civilian residences in Nyala, the capital of South Darfur, were targeted by artillery strikes on Wednesday. The attacks reportedly occurred following complaints by Rapid Support Forces (RSF) soldiers who claimed they had not received their salaries
