Fighting broke out on 15 April after weeks of tensions between the paramilitary group the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), previously allied with the Sudanese Armed Forces under the auspices of the National Intelligence and Security Services, led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemeti and the Deputy Chairman of the Transitional Sovereignty Council and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) under the command of General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who led the 2021 military coup and has acted as the country’s president. Hemeti has been implicated in several mass atrocities committed in Darfur[1], with his origins as a leader in the Janjaweed, there have been calls by Darfuri civil society for the International Criminal Court to open an investigation into Hemeti.[2]
The fighting broke out amidst efforts to agree to the integration of the two forces in the context of an overall effort to bring back civilian rule following the 2021 coup. Both men were reluctant to lose power.[3]
Since fighting broke out at least 550 people, including 190 children, have been killed and over 4,900 injured,[4] with speculation that the total number of those wounded is much higher due to the closure of several hospitals. Fighting has been mostly concentrated in heavily populated areas, with both sides vying for control over strategic locations like the airport and presidential palace in Central Khartoum.[5] According to ACLED, two-thirds of the fighting between SAF and RSF took place in cities of over 100,000 people, most within Khartoum state.[6] Both parties used explosive weapons in urban areas killing civilians and damaging critical infrastructure needed for basic services, and neither took necessary measures to minimise harm to civilians as required by international humanitarian law.[7] RSF has reportedly taken over civilian homes in Khartoum using them as cover from SAF, with civilians living under constant fire. There are severe humanitarian concerns, as many are without electricity and water as critical infrastructure has been hit and there is no security for repair crews. Civilians are also lacking food as supply lines have been cut off by fighting.[8] There have been at least 28 attacks on health facilities including a maternity hospital,[9] and more than two thirds of all hospitals across Sudan are no longer functioning.[10] There have been incidents of sexual assaults by fighters from both warring parties, at least seven cases of rape were reported in Khartoum and women human rights defenders are being targeted by former regime supporters for calling for an end to the war.[11] Thousands of civilians have evacuated Khartoum amidst heavy gunfire[12], and relocated to more secure cities.[13] Several foreigners and diplomats have been evacuated by their countries of origin.[14]
Although Khartoum has been the focus of reporting, fighting in other areas, including El Obeid, Kosti and White Nile State and in Darfur. Violence in Geneina, West Darfur, is especially worrying, with reported attacks from the RSF[15] in their traditional stronghold, alongside intercommunal fighting.[16] At least 180 people were killed during the last week of April. Residents have reported killings of civilians whilst fetching water and food and there have been reports of rape and gender-based violence.[17] Humanitarian facilities were looted and all hospitals and pharmacies in the area are closed,[18] and homes and at least 20 buildings and shelters for internally displaced persons (IDPs) were targeted, leading to secondary displacement of thousands of IDPs.[19] Those who remain were armed by the police in order to be able to protect themselves from RSF attacks, however, this risks increasing violence among civilians[20] and the potential for further intercommunal conflict.
Pre-negotiation talks began in Saudi Arabia the second week of May, and a declaration of principles on civilian protection was signed. Against the backdrop of several ceasefires which were declared but failed to hold,[21] both parties to the conflict are poised to continue the conflict, there is little hope of quick progress. Sudanese activists have raised their voices against both warring parties and are insisting on a return to civilian rule without inclusion by either Burhan or Hemeti’s forces. They said the two positions “express a direct interest for each of the parties to the conflict in power,” while “our position necessarily favours the only one affected by this war, the Sudanese people – whom the conflicting parties are attempting to get on their side and their allies, in order to gain popular and political support.”[22] Civilians in most cases do not support either warring side, however ongoing aggressive campaigns seek to polarise the situation as both are calling for civilians to side with them,[23] the longer fighting persists, the more likely civilians are to succumb to the ongoing efforts made by both parties seeking support and fuelling further violence. There have already been indicators of polarisation of communities in El Geneina and elsewhere in Darfur, which exist in a longstanding and prevalent environment of an existing culture of impunity.[24]
[1] Human Rights Watch, ““Men With No Mercy: Rapid Support Forces Attacks against Civilians in Darfur, Sudan”, 9 September 2015.
[2] Radio Dabanga, “Darfur displaced call on ICC to indict RSF commander Hemeti”, 2018, https://www.dabangasudan.org/en/all-news/article/darfur-displaced-call-on-icc-to-indict-rsf-commander-hemeti.
[3] UN News, “Background to a crisis: In Sudan, the stakes are high for the whole of Africa,” 28 April 2023, https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/04/1136187
[4] OCHA, Sudan: Clashes between SAF and RSF – Flash Update No. 10, 6 May 2023, https://reliefweb.int/report/sudan/sudan-clashes-between-saf-and-rsf-flash-update-no-10-6-may-2023-enar
[5] Chatam House, “Resolving Sudan’s crisis means removing those fighting,” 21 April 2023, https://www.chathamhouse.org/2023/04/resolving-sudans-crisis-means-removing-those-fighting
[6] ACLED, Fact Sheet: Conflict Surges in Sudan, 5 May 2023, https://acleddata.com/2023/04/28/fact-sheet-conflict-surges-in-sudan/
[7] Human Rights Watch, “Sudan: Explosive Weapons Harming Civilians,” 4 May 2023, https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/05/04/sudan-explosive-weapons-harming-civilians
[8] Chatam House, “Resolving Sudan’s crisis means removing those fighting,” 21 April 2023, https://www.chathamhouse.org/2023/04/resolving-sudans-crisis-means-removing-those-fighting
[9] UNFPA, “Continued attacks on health facilities in Sudan deprive women of reproductive health care,” 5 May 2023, https://www.unfpa.org/press/continued-attacks-health-facilities-sudan-deprive-women-reproductive-health-care
[10] OCHA, “Sudan: Clashes between the SAF and RSF, Flash Update No. 9,” 2 May 2023.
[11] Sudanese Womens Rights Action, Joint Brief: War in Sudan: Situation of Women and WHRDs, 2 May 2023, https://suwra.org/blog/2023/05/02/joint-brief-war-in-sudan-situation-of-women-and-whrds/
[12] UN Meetings Coverage and Press Release, “As Desperate Sudanese Flee Their Embattled Nation, Security Council Urges Warring Parties to Respect Ceasefire, Reboot Negotiations, Immediately End Fighting”, 25 April 2023, https://press.un.org/en/2023/sc15265.doc.htm.
[13] New York Times, “Thousands Flee to Sudan’s Main Seaport, Seeking Ships to Safety“, 1 May 2023, https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/01/world/africa/port-sudan-evacuation.html.
[14] AP, “Foreigners airlifted out; Sudanese seek refuge from fighting”, 24 April 2023, https://apnews.com/article/sudan-fighting-rival-generals-foreigners-evacuated-1378805c261ca77b99effe8aa7537eb1.
[15] Dabanga Sudan, “Nearly 200 dead in West Darfur violence: situation ‘extremely dangerous,” 1 May 2023, https://www.dabangasudan.org/en/all-news/article/nearly-200-confirmed-dead-in-west-darfur-violence-situation-extremely-dangerous
[16] OHCHR, “Sudan: Plight of civilians amid hostilities,” 28 April 2023, https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-briefing-notes/2023/04/sudan-plight-civilians-amid-hostilities
[17] Dabanga Sudan, “Nearly 200 dead in West Darfur violence: situation ‘extremely dangerous,” 1 May 2023, https://www.dabangasudan.org/en/all-news/article/nearly-200-confirmed-dead-in-west-darfur-violence-situation-extremely-dangerous
[18] OCHA, Sudan: Clashes between SAF and RSF – Flash Update No. 10, 6 May 2023, https://reliefweb.int/report/sudan/sudan-clashes-between-saf-and-rsf-flash-update-no-10-6-may-2023-enar
[19] Dabanga Sudan, “Nearly 200 dead in West Darfur violence: situation ‘extremely dangerous,” 1 May 2023, https://www.dabangasudan.org/en/all-news/article/nearly-200-confirmed-dead-in-west-darfur-violence-situation-extremely-dangerous
[20] Dabanga Sudan, “Nearly 200 dead in West Darfur violence: situation ‘extremely dangerous,” 1 May 2023, https://www.dabangasudan.org/en/all-news/article/nearly-200-confirmed-dead-in-west-darfur-violence-situation-extremely-dangerous
[21] OCHA, Sudan: Clashes between SAF and RSF – Flash Update No. 10, 6 May 2023, https://reliefweb.int/report/sudan/sudan-clashes-between-saf-and-rsf-flash-update-no-10-6-may-2023-enar
[22] Dabanga Sudan, “Sudan activists ‘reject both warlords, call for participation in peace talks,” 7 May 2023, https://www.dabangasudan.org/en/all-news/article/sudan-activists-reject-both-warlords-call-for-participation-in-peace-talks
[23] Chatam House, “Resolving Sudan’s crisis means removing those fighting,” 21 April 2023, https://www.chathamhouse.org/2023/04/resolving-sudans-crisis-means-removing-those-fighting
[24] Munzoul Assal, “Dividing the divided: The April 15 war and social polarization in Sudan,” Sudan Transparency and Policy Tracker, May 2023, www.sudantransparency.org.
