At least 36,000 Sudanese have fled following fall of El Fasher to paramilitary group, reports UN agency

Over 36,000 people have fled Sudan's Kordofan area eastern part of Darfur beginning Saturday, according to the UN's migration organization.

The key central region between the country's Darfur provinces and the Khartoum-Riverine area has over recent weeks become the latest battleground in the two-year civil war between the Sudanese armed forces and the paramilitary forces.

Substantial Evacuation Figures

An estimated 36,825 people evacuated from five districts in North Kordofan province between 26 October and 31 October, per data from the International Organization for Migration.

The individuals, primarily walking, headed to Tawila, a town to the west of El Fasher that is currently housing more than 652,000 evacuated individuals.

Increased Military Presence

Citizens of North Kordofan on Monday reported a substantial rise in both RSF and army deployment across towns and villages throughout the state.

Both forces are vying for control of El Obeid, the North Kordofan regional capital and a important strategic and command hub that connects Darfur to Khartoum.

"Today, all our forces have assembled at the Bara front here," said an RSF member in a recently distributed video message.

Regional Citizens Describe Safety Fears

A resident of Um Smeima, located west of El Obeid, described that the number of RSF vehicles had increased substantially since the group's seizure of El Fasher.

"We discontinued traveling to our farms, fearing confrontations," the individual commented.

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

International Alarms and Calls

A senior UN official sounded warnings last week about "widespread abuses" and "ethnically motivated reprisals" by RSF in Bara.

The representative warned of patterns echoing those in Darfur, where RSF militants have been alleged to commit mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against non-Arab ethnic groups.

The religious leader on Sunday called for an prompt truce and the creation of humanitarian corridors in Sudan, saying that attacks on civilians and impediments to humanitarian aid "are producing unacceptable suffering."

Sudan's diplomatic representative to Egypt on Sunday charged RSF of carrying out war crimes in El Fasher and declared that the Sudanese government would not negotiate with the militia organization.

The representative further encouraged the international community to classify the group as a terrorist entity.

William Beltran
William Beltran

A passionate collector and writer specializing in gaming memorabilia and unique finds.