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

In excess of 36,000 civilians have fled Sudan's Kordofan area east of Darfur starting Saturday, according to the UN's migration agency.

The key central region connecting the country's Darfur areas and the capital region has during recent weeks become the newest conflict zone in the 24-month civil conflict between the Sudanese armed forces and the militia group.

Massive Evacuation Figures

An calculated 36,825 people escaped five areas in North Kordofan province between 26 October and 31 October, according to the International Organization for Migration.

The civilians, primarily walking, traveled to Tawila, a town western side of El Fasher that is currently accommodating over 652,000 displaced people.

Heightened Troop Concentration

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

Both armed factions are contesting control of El Obeid, the North Kordofan provincial capital and a key logistics and command hub that links Darfur to Khartoum.

"Today, all our forces have assembled at the Bara front here," commented an RSF member in a recently circulated video statement.

Regional Inhabitants Detail Safety Fears

A resident of Um Smeima, located west of El Obeid, described that the amount of RSF vehicles had increased considerably since the group's takeover of El Fasher.

"We stopped going to our farms, fearing clashes," the local commented.

Another resident, who requested anonymity for safety concerns, also reported that "there has been a substantial growth in army vehicles and weapons west and south of El Obeid" over the previous fortnight.

World Warnings and Appeals

A senior UN official expressed concerns last week about "extensive crimes" and "ethnically motivated reprisals" by RSF in Bara.

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

The religious leader on Sunday called for an prompt truce and the opening of relief routes in Sudan, saying that attacks on civilians and obstacles to humanitarian aid "are causing unacceptable suffering."

Sudan's ambassador to Egypt on Sunday accused RSF of committing war crimes in El Fasher and stated that the Sudanese government would not discuss with the militia organization.

The representative further encouraged the world nations to categorize the group as a terrorist entity.

Walter George
Walter George

A cybersecurity expert with over a decade of experience in IT infrastructure and network monitoring, passionate about helping organizations stay secure.