UNITED NATIONS — The ongoing conflict in Sudan, involving its military and paramilitary factions, is intensifying, with external influences exacerbating the crisis, according to the U.N. Secretary-General. Antonio Guterres noted on Monday that the 18-month conflict poses significant risks of sparking instability across the Sahel region, the Horn of Africa, and the Red Sea.
In a sober assessment, Guterres conveyed to the U.N. Security Council that Sudanese citizens are enduring severe hardships, described as a series of “nightmares.” These include violent deaths, horrific acts such as widespread sexual violence, the rapid onset of diseases, ethnic violence, and alarming food shortages, with around 750,000 people currently facing catastrophic food insecurity and famine conditions in North Darfur displacement camp sites.
Highlighting recent incidents, he pointed to distressing reports of mass killings and sexual assaults in east-central Gezira province. Reports from the U.N. and a medical organization indicate that paramilitary units unleashed a wave of violence, leaving over 120 individuals dead in a single community during a prolonged onslaught.
The conflict erupted in mid-April 2023, driven by deep-rooted tensions between military factions and paramilitary leaders, initially igniting in the capital, Khartoum, and expanding into other regions, notably western Darfur. According to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data project, more than 24,000 lives have been lost since the outbreak of violence, contributing to a humanitarian displacement crisis of unprecedented scale, with over 11 million people fleeing their residences, including approximately 3 million seeking refuge in neighboring nations.
Guterres called for an immediate ceasefire agreement from both factions, emphasizing their responsibility to ensure the safety of civilians and allow humanitarian assistance to reach those affected. He expressed profound concerns over continued assaults by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on civilians in El Fasher, North Darfur, and the surrounding areas where famine has been declared.
Adding to his distress, Guterres condemned the attacks against civilians carried out by military units aligned with the Sudanese Armed Forces in Khartoum, highlighting the continual civilian death toll resulting from indiscriminate airstrikes in densely populated regions.
He asserted the importance of holding accountable those who breach international humanitarian law in this crisis. The war ignited after a successful pro-democracy uprising dismantled the dictatorship of Omar al-Bashir four years ago, leading to a brief period of democratic transition, which ultimately collapsed.
The conflict has been marred by serious human rights violations, including mass sexual violence and racially targeted murders. The U.N. and global human rights organizations characterize these behaviors as war crimes and crimes against humanity, particularly in western Darfur, which currently faces severe aggression from the RSF, a group with origins in the infamous Janjaweed militias.
Recollections of the atrocities in Darfur resurface, as the region once symbolized genocide and human rights violations linked to the notorious Janjaweed forces that targeted populations identifying as Central or East African. These events resulted in approximately 300,000 fatalities and displaced 2.7 million individuals from their homes.
The implications of this brutal legacy seem to resurface, with the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Karim Khan, declaring in January that evidence suggests both factions involved in the current struggle may be committing war crimes, atrocities against humanity, or even genocide within the Darfur region.