In excess of 60,000 Flee Sudan's City In the wake of Seizure by RSF Paramilitary Group, UN Says

Refugees escaping violence in Sudan
Numerous are attempting to reach the settlement of Tawila but experience intimidation, demands for money and abuse from fighters along the way

As stated by the United Nations refugee organization, over 60,000 civilians have left the city in Sudan of el-Fasher, which was seized by the militia Rapid Support Forces over the weekend.

There have been mass executions and atrocities as paramilitary forces entered the city following an 18-month encirclement featuring starvation and intense shelling.

The movement of those escaping the conflict towards the community of Tawila, approximately 80km (50 miles) to the west of el-Fasher, had grown in the past few days, according to United Nations refugee agency representative.

Survivors were describing horrendous tales of atrocities, such as sexual violence, and the humanitarian group was finding it difficult to secure sufficient accommodation and nourishment for them.

All children was affected by undernourishment, she added.

Estimates suggest that over 150,000 residents are still unable to leave in el-Fasher, which had been the army's last stronghold in the western region of Darfur.

The Rapid Support Forces has disputed extensive accusations that the killings in el-Fasher are based on ethnic factors and resemble a pattern of the Arab paramilitaries attacking non-Arab populations.

Nevertheless the paramilitary group has detained one of its militiamen, Abu Lulu, who has been accused of extrajudicial killings.

The organization released recordings revealing the member's apprehension following identification that he was responsible for the killing of several civilians in the vicinity of el-Fasher.

Social media platform has verified that it has banned the profile connected to Lulu. It is not clear whether he had controlled the profile in his name.

Sudan was entered a civil war in April 2023 after a intense struggle for power erupted between its army and the Rapid Support Forces.

The conflict has resulted in a starvation emergency and accusations of mass killing in the western Sudan.

In excess of 150,000 people have died in the conflict throughout the country, and roughly 12 million have abandoned their homes in what the United Nations has called the world's largest humanitarian disaster.

The capture of el-Fasher strengthens the territorial division in the country, with the RSF now in command of western Sudan and significant areas of bordering Kordofan to the southern area, and the military occupying the capital, Khartoum, central and eastern regions along the coastal region.

The opposing sides had been partners - gaining control together in a seizure of power in 2021 - but disagreed over an internationally backed initiative to advance to civilian leadership.

Christine Smith
Christine Smith

Automotive journalist with 12 years of experience covering electric vehicles and sustainable mobility trends across Europe.