Violence Erupts In Sudan’s Al-Fashir, As Civilians Flee For Safety

Tens of thousands of residents have fled their homes in the Abu Shouk camp in the Sudanese city of al-Fashir after an assault by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary troops, activists reported. 

The RSF, engaged in a fierce battle to capture the last army stronghold in western Darfur, launched an attack, looting the camp and causing significant casualties.

Local sources disclosed that the RSF’s raid resulted in an unknown number of fatalities and at least 13 injuries. 

This attack marks more than a year since the onset of Sudan’s internal conflict. The Coordinating Committee for Refugees and Displaced People, which oversees regional camps, stated that approximately 60% of the camp’s over 100,000 residents fled.

Clashes continued in other areas of al-Fashir on Friday, intensifying the humanitarian crisis. 

The situation remains dire, with no immediate comments from the RSF or the Sudanese army regarding the latest incidents. Both factions have persistently blamed each other for the ongoing violence. 

The U.N. special adviser on the prevention of genocide warned of a potential genocide, with indications that it might already be occurring.

Alice Wairimu Nderitu, addressing the U.N. Security Council emphasised that civilians in al-Fashir and other parts of Darfur were being targeted based on their identity and skin color. 

This recent violence evokes memories of the atrocities committed two decades ago, when the janjaweed militias, RSF’s precursors, were accused of genocide while allied with the Sudanese army.