Sudanese refugees from Zamzam camp exterior of El Fasher, in Darfur, obtain meals.
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Lynsey Addario/Getty Photos Europe
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — A paramilitary group accused of genocide says it has seized the final Sudanese military stronghold within the Darfur area. The transfer raises fears of ethnic cleaning and issues the war-torn nation may finally cut up in two.
The Speedy Help Forces (RSF) stated Sunday that they had overrun the military’s base within the metropolis of El Fasher, which has been underneath siege for greater than a yr. The federal government — which has been combating a civil battle towards the militia since 2023 — has but to substantiate this.
The U.S., U.N. consultants and the Sudanese military all argue that the RSF — which grew out of the infamous Janjaweed militia that fought in Darfur within the early 2000s — and allied ethnic-Arab militias have been committing genocide. They are saying the targets are African ethnic teams in Darfur.
Monitoring for “proof of potential mass atrocities”
Movies circulating on-line that might not be independently verified by NPR appeared to indicate closely armed RSF fighters celebrating taking town; in automobiles chasing folks fleeing; and shouting racial slurs at detainees.
The United Nations’ migration company stated 2,500 to three,000 folks had fled El Fasher since Sunday. The Humanitarian Analysis Lab at Yale College confirmed satellite tv for pc imagery exhibiting vital harm on the metropolis’s airport and armed forces headquarters.
The Yale lab stated it noticed indicators the RSF had taken prisoners and it was monitoring for “proof of potential mass atrocities.”
The United Nations humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher stated in an announcement that “with fighters pushing additional into town and escape routes lower off, a whole lot of 1000’s of civilians are trapped and terrified — shelled, ravenous, and with out entry to meals, healthcare, or security.”
President Trump’s Africa envoy Massad Boulos posted an announcement saying, “Humanitarian corridors have to be opened instantly… the world is watching El Fasher and the RSF’s actions with deep concern.”
However Shayna Lewis, Sudan Specialist on the U.S.-based nonprofit Avaaz, stated, “The worldwide group has so far failed in its duty to guard civilians, standing by while the RSF perpetrates a succession of ethnically-motivated massacres of civilians throughout Sudan.”
“1000’s of civilians are liable to atrocity crimes in and round El Fasher,” she added.
Whereas rights teams have accused either side within the battle of battle crimes, together with extrajudicial killings and the blocking of humanitarian support, they’ve blamed the overwhelming majority of atrocities on the RSF, led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, often known as Hemeti.
The Sudan Docs Community stated in an announcement that dozens of individuals had been killed in a “horrific bloodbath…in a criminal offense of ethnic cleaning” because the RSF took management of the El Fasher navy base, a declare NPR couldn’t independently confirm.
However the militia group has dedicated atrocities within the area this yr already. In April, the RSF attacked the huge ZamZam displacement camp in North Darfur, which was house to about half 1,000,000 folks, killing a whole lot.
Docs With out Borders stated Monday it was treating individuals who had fled El Fasher at certainly one of its close by well being posts: “In the course of the night time of 26 to 27 October, round 1,000 folks from El Fasher arrived by truck… Up to now in the present day, about 300 folks have been handled on the well being submit and 130 despatched to the emergency room of the hospital, together with 15 requiring lifesaving surgical procedure.”
The vast majority of the kids underneath 5 whom the help group noticed from town have been malnourished, the group stated.
Worldwide involvement complicates battle
Two and a half years of battle in Sudan have seen tens of 1000’s killed and 14 million displaced in what the United Nations says is the world’s worst humanitarian disaster.
The battle over which aspect will get to run the resource-rich nation that sits on the important crossroads between North Africa, the Sahel, the Horn of Africa and the Crimson Sea has not been occurring in a vacuum.
There are a number of worldwide gamers concerned.
On Monday, U.N. Secretary-Common António Gueterres lamented “exterior interference,” which he stated was undermining the potential of a ceasefire.
Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Iran are all supporting the Sudanese military, whereas the United Arab Emirates is accused of backing the RSF — one thing the UAE denies.
The military, led by de-facto Sudanese chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, claimed a significant victory earlier this yr when it retook the capital Khartoum, marking a key turning level within the battle.
However the RSF regrouped in Darfur. It has besieged some 250,000 residents of El Fasher for 18 months, focusing on civilians with drones and strikes, and the blockade has led to hunger and famine.
With El Fasher now apparently within the fingers of the RSF, the entire of Darfur is underneath the paramilitary’s management. Consultants fear the area may cut up the nation in two, as occurred over the past battle in Darfur and the creation of South Sudan.
The RSF introduced the institution of a rival authorities earlier this yr, although it has not been acknowledged.
