The ongoing conflict in Sudan has reached alarming new heights, prompting United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to demand an immediate cessation of military escalation. His call follows reports of a harrowing incident in which over 460 individuals were reportedly shot dead at the Saudi Maternity Hospital in El-Fasher, a facility that was among the last partially operational hospitals in the city.
The violence stems from the actions of paramilitary forces led by Mohammad Hamdan Daglo, who has recently taken control of El-Fasher, the final stronghold of the army in the Darfur region. This takeover, following more than 18 months of intense conflict, raises fears of a resurgence of ethnically targeted violence reminiscent of the atrocities committed two decades ago.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has condemned the attacks on healthcare facilities, highlighting that the Saudi Maternity Hospital faced its fourth assault within a month. This culminated in the tragic losses of health workers and the reported mass killings within the hospital, which included the abduction of medical personnel.
In response to the escalating violence, Guterres expressed profound concern, urging for an immediate halt to hostilities and a lifting of the siege in El-Fasher. International efforts to mediate a ceasefire between the rival armed factions, which have been in conflict since April 2023, have struggled to make headway as both sides remain entrenched in their positions.
As the RSF now governs a significant portion of western Sudan, the regular army retains control in other regions, including the north and center. While the army managed to reestablish authority in the capital, Khartoum, the RSF has asserted its own governing structures in other cities, effectively leading to a fragmented nation.
The ramifications of this conflict have been deadly and damaging. Daglo recently expressed regret over the predicament faced by the residents of El-Fasher, claiming that civilians should not be targets of violence. However, the RSF, descended from notorious Janjaweed militias, faces accusations of committing ethnic genocide against non-Arab communities, particularly the Fur people in Darfur. The Sudanese government has recorded thousands of civilian deaths at the hands of the RSF, coupled with assaults on places of worship and humanitarian workers.
Recent research from Yale University has revealed evidence of “mass killing events” in El-Fasher, with reports of systematic racial cleansing being corroborated through satellite imagery, further validating the accounts of ongoing atrocities.
The RSF’s control over El-Fasher has resulted in the displacement of tens of thousands, with many fleeing to the nearby town of Tawila, which is now hosting over 650,000 displaced individuals. Access to El-Fasher has been severely restricted, with communications cut off for those inside the city, while the RSF maintains control over satellite communications.
The humanitarian crisis triggered by this conflict is unprecedented, with millions displaced and tens of thousands killed. International mediation efforts, particularly by the Quad group comprising the United States, Egypt, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia, have yet to yield a viable truce, hindered by what insiders describe as “continued obstructionism” from the government aligned with the military.
While global entities advocate for peace, there is a growing concern that external powers may be exacerbating the conflict rather than facilitating resolution, complicating an already dire situation in Sudan.
