Latest on the fighting in Sudan’s North Darfur State | DW News

Key Concepts:

• Sudan Civil War
• Al-Fashir Siege
• Rapid Support Forces (RSF)
• Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF)
• Humanitarian Crisis
• Ethnic Conflict
• Displacement Camps
• Strategic Importance of Al-Fashir

Al-Fashir Under Siege:

• Al-Fashir, the capital of North Darfur State, has been under siege by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for over a year.
• The city is the last major stronghold in North Darfur not under RSF control.
• The UN and rights groups have reported atrocities, including ethnically targeted killings.

Escalation of Violence and Civilian Casualties:

• New attacks occur daily, with a recent attack resulting in the deaths of over 75 civilians who were praying.
• Eyewitnesses and civilian groups confirmed the number of casualties.
• The situation is described as "beyond catastrophic" due to the ongoing siege and acute hunger crisis.

Humanitarian Crisis and Displacement:

• More than 600,000 people are trapped in Al-Fashir, according to the United Nations.
• Over 260,000 people have fled the violence.
• Men and boys are unable to leave the city as the RSF has blocked all entries and exits.
• The RSF is also blocking humanitarian aid from reaching the hundreds of thousands of people in need.

Conditions in Displacement Camps:

• Displacement camps, including Zam Zam and Abushouk, are under siege and attacked by the RSF.
• These camps have existed for over 20 years due to the ongoing conflict in the region.
• No aid can be delivered to the displaced people, and attacks target civilians and civilian infrastructure.
• Only one hospital is functioning, and people are dying of starvation.

Failed Humanitarian Efforts:

• Calls to end the siege of Al-Fashir have been unsuccessful.
• The World Food Programme (WFP) has aid and trucks ready, but the RSF has not provided guarantees that they will not loot or attack the aid convoys.

Strategic Significance of Al-Fashir:

• Al-Fashir is the last stronghold for the Sudanese army and allied groups in the Darfur region.
• Four out of five states in the region are already under RSF control. Capturing Al-Fashir would give the RSF control over the entire region.
• The city is a strategic location that would allow the RSF to attack northern and eastern parts of Sudan.
• Al-Fashir is a commercial city close to Libya, which could provide the RSF with military support and aid.

Ethnic Dimensions of the Conflict:

• There is an ethnic background to the fighting, with conflict between Arab and non-Arab groups in Al-Fashir.
• This ethnic dimension is a factor in the RSF's determination to invade and control the city.

Conclusion:

The situation in Al-Fashir is dire, with a severe humanitarian crisis exacerbated by the ongoing siege and violence. The city's strategic importance and ethnic tensions fuel the conflict, preventing aid from reaching those in need. Urgent intervention by the international community is necessary to end the suffering of millions of people trapped in Al-Fashir.