Escalation of Conflict in Sudan: Intense Clashes and a Deepening Humanitarian Crisis
Khartoum – Sunday: Eleven civilians, including three children, were killed and 31 others injured—among them nine women—in an attack reportedly carried out by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on the Shuq al-Noum area in North Kordofan State, according to a statement released by the Sudanese Doctors’ Union on Sunday.
The union described the attack as a serious assault on civilians and highlighted the presence of critical injuries among the wounded, including pregnant women. The statement raised concerns about the escalating violence in what were previously considered safe residential areas.
The union also expressed deep concern over the continued targeting of civilian-populated areas and called on the international community, the United Nations, the African Union, and human rights organizations to take immediate action to halt such violations and ensure accountability, in line with international humanitarian law and human rights conventions.
Sudanese Army Responds with Airstrikes on RSF Positions
In response to the recent attacks, the Sudanese Armed Forces conducted airstrikes on RSF positions in Kordofan State, according to military sources. The strikes are part of a broader military campaign against RSF advances in the region.
Heavy Clashes in El Fasher
Meanwhile, heavy fighting erupted in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, on Saturday. The Sudanese army reportedly repelled a large-scale RSF assault on the city.
According to a military source quoted by Agence France-Presse (AFP), the army, supported by allied armed factions, regained control of Shala Prison and the Central Reserve Police headquarters in the southwestern part of the city, inflicting substantial losses on RSF forces in both personnel and territory.
However, a Rapid Support Forces spokesperson told AFP that their troops continue to maintain full control over those same sites since Friday, including the livestock market in southern El Fasher. The RSF also published video footage purportedly showing its fighters taking control of key locations in the city.
Escalation in Darfur Amid Deepening Humanitarian Crisis
The fighting in El Fasher marks a sharp escalation since the RSF lost control of Khartoum in March. RSF units have since intensified efforts to seize full control over the Darfur region, launching repeated attacks on the city and surrounding displacement camps, where famine has been officially declared.
The war in Sudan, ongoing for more than a year, has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and displaced nearly 13 million people, worsening the humanitarian situation across several regions. Aid organizations and observers continue to warn of a looming humanitarian catastrophe if a resolution to the conflict is not urgently reached.
Read also: After a Long Absence, Sudan’s RSF Leader Returns with Threats
