Over 36,000 Sudanese have fled following fall of El Fasher to Rapid Support Forces, reports UN agency

In excess of 36,000 individuals have escaped Sudan's Kordofan region eastern sector of Darfur beginning Saturday, as reported by the UN's migration organization.

The strategic central area between the country's Darfur areas and the Khartoum-Riverine region has in recent weeks become the newest conflict zone in the two-year civil war between the Sudanese armed forces and the paramilitary group.

Significant Displacement Numbers

An calculated 36,825 people escaped five localities in North Kordofan region between 26 October and 31 October, per data from the International Organization for Migration.

The individuals, primarily walking, moved toward Tawila, a town to the west of El Fasher that is currently sheltering more than 652,000 refugees.

Increased Troop Concentration

Residents of North Kordofan on Monday noted a substantial rise in both RSF and army deployment across communities throughout the state.

Both forces are competing for control of El Obeid, the North Kordofan provincial capital and a important strategic and command base that links Darfur to Khartoum.

"Today, all our forces have converged on the Bara front here," said an RSF member in a recently shared video message.

Local Residents Describe Safety Fears

A local inhabitant of Um Smeima, located west of El Obeid, described that the quantity of RSF vehicles had increased significantly since the group's takeover of El Fasher.

"We ceased visiting our farms, afraid of fighting," the resident explained.

Another resident, who sought confidentiality for safety concerns, also indicated that "there has been a significant rise in army vehicles and weapons west and south of El Obeid" over the past two weeks.

Global Concerns and Appeals

A senior UN official raised the alarm last week about "widespread abuses" and "ethnically motivated reprisals" by RSF in Bara.

The official cautioned about patterns similar to those in Darfur, where RSF combatants have been accused of mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against specific ethnic communities.

The spiritual head on Sunday appealed for an prompt truce and the creation of aid passageways in Sudan, declaring that attacks on civilians and impediments to humanitarian aid "are creating unacceptable suffering."

Sudan's ambassador to Egypt on Sunday alleged RSF of perpetrating war crimes in El Fasher and declared that the Sudanese government would not discuss with the paramilitary group.

The diplomat further called on the global community to classify the group as a terrorist entity.

Matthew Davidson
Matthew Davidson

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