Background on Key Players and Context
Sudan has been embroiled in a power struggle since April 2023, with General Abdel Fatah al Burhan, the commander of the regular army and de facto leader since the 2021 coup, facing off against General Mohamed Daglo, who leads the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group.
Al Burhan has been the de facto leader of Sudan since the 2021 military coup, which ousted then-President Omar al-Bashir. Daglo, on the other hand, leads the RSF, a powerful group with roots in the notorious Janjaweed militias responsible for atrocities during the Darfur conflict in the early 2000s.
The Significance of El Fasher
El Fasher, a city in Sudan’s Darfur region, has been at the center of this escalating conflict. The city has faced severe humanitarian challenges, including famine, and has been the scene of intense fighting between al Burhan’s forces and Daglo’s RSF.
Recent Developments and UN Response
On Sunday, the RSF announced that they had taken full control of El Fasher, the last major city in western Darfur not under their control. This development could mark a turning point in the relentless civil war.
In response, General al Burhan acknowledged the withdrawal of his forces from El Fasher to a safer location and vowed to “take revenge” and continue fighting “until that land is purified.”
UN Secretary-General António Guterres described this development as a “terrible escalation” of the conflict, emphasizing the “unbearable level of suffering” in Sudan.
With the RSF’s control of El Fasher, they would effectively govern all of Darfur, establishing a parallel administration that challenges al Burhan’s authority in the capital, Port Sudan.
Humanitarian Concerns and Calls for Action
Volker Turk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, highlighted the growing risk of ethnically motivated violence and atrocities in El Fasher. He urged for “urgent and concrete action” to ensure the protection of civilians and safe passage for those trying to flee the violence.
Images shared by a local resistance committee, composed of pro-democracy civilians documenting the conflict, depict desperate civilians fleeing and lifeless bodies scattered amidst burnt-out vehicles.
The RSF claimed they were conducting operations to “eliminate the remaining terrorist and mercenary hotspots” and had deployed forces to “protect civilians.” However, independent verification of these claims by AFP remains impossible.
According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), over 26,000 people have fled the fighting since Sunday, with most seeking refuge in El Fasher’s outskirts or heading to Tawila, 70 kilometers west of the city.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who are the key players in Sudan’s conflict? The main parties involved are General Abdel Fatah al Burhan, the de facto leader of Sudan since the 2021 coup, and General Mohamed Daglo, who leads the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group.
- What is the significance of El Fasher? El Fasher is a city in Sudan’s Darfur region that has been the epicenter of the ongoing power struggle between al Burhan and Daglo’s RSF. Its control signifies a potential shift in the balance of power within Sudan.
- What humanitarian concerns have been raised? The UN has expressed grave concern over the escalating violence, ethnically motivated atrocities, and the worsening humanitarian crisis in Sudan. There are urgent calls for action to protect civilians and facilitate their safe escape from the conflict zones.
- How many people have been displaced? According to the IOM, more than 26,000 people have fled the fighting in Sudan since Sunday, with most seeking refuge in El Fasher’s periphery or moving to Tawila.
