Over 60,000 Run from Sudan's City After Seizure by Rapid Support Forces Paramilitary Group, UN Says

Displaced people fleeing conflict in Sudan
Many seek to get to the town of Tawila but experience intimidation, extortion and mistreatment from armed men along the way

According to the UN refugee agency, over 60,000 civilians have left the Sudanese city of el-Fasher, which was seized by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces during the weekend.

There have been multiple executions and atrocities as RSF fighters stormed the city following an 18-month blockade marked by starvation and heavy bombardment.

The flow of those running from the fighting towards the community of Tawila, approximately 80km (50 miles) west of el-Fasher, had accelerated in the past few days, per UNHCR spokesperson.

They were describing horrendous tales of abuses, featuring sexual violence, and the agency was having trouble to secure enough housing and supplies for them.

Every child was suffering from nutritional deficiencies, she commented.

Estimates suggest that over 150,000 individuals are currently unable to leave in el-Fasher, which had been the military's remaining bastion in the western region of Darfur.

The Rapid Support Forces has denied extensive accusations that the deaths in el-Fasher are ethnically motivated and mirror a practice of the Arab paramilitaries targeting ethnic minorities.

Yet the RSF has detained one of its militiamen, Abu Lulu, who has been accused of extrajudicial killings.

The force shared footage revealing the militiaman's arrest after identification that he was involved in the killing of multiple civilians in the vicinity of el-Fasher.

Digital platform has confirmed that it has suspended the channel connected to Lulu. Uncertainty exists whether he had managed the account in his identity.

Sudan was plunged into a internal conflict in April 2023 when a intense contest for control broke out between its military and the RSF.

This has led to a food crisis and allegations of ethnic cleansing in the Darfur area.

In excess of 150,000 people have died in the war around the country, and approximately 12 million have left their residences in what the UN has described as the world's largest humanitarian crisis.

The capture of el-Fasher strengthens the territorial division in the country, with the Rapid Support Forces now in control of the western region and much of neighbouring Kordofan to the south, and the army holding the main city, Khartoum, central and eastern areas along the coastal region.

The competing factions had been collaborators - taking over together in a coup in 2021 - but fell out over an foreign-endorsed initiative to transition to democratic governance.

Denise Mitchell
Denise Mitchell

A digital content strategist passionate about gaming and live streaming innovations, with years of experience in community building.