Sudan’s Escalating Violence: Over 127 Killed in Latest Attacks

Thursday 12 December 2024 - 12:50

By: Dakir Madiha

Sudan’s Escalating Violence: Over 127 Killed in Latest Attacks

The conflict in Sudan continues to spiral, with over 127 people, predominantly civilians, killed in the latest round of violence between the Sudanese Army (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The fighting, which has intensified over the past week, has been marked by airstrikes, artillery shelling, and the use of barrel bombs in densely populated areas, particularly in North Darfur and Khartoum.

On Monday and Tuesday, airstrikes by the Sudanese Army targeted RSF-controlled regions, while the RSF retaliated with artillery strikes aimed at military-held territories. The devastating violence has led to a deepening humanitarian crisis, displacing millions of people and leaving entire communities in ruins.

In Kabkabiya, North Darfur, the Sudanese Army dropped more than eight barrel bombs on a market, killing at least 100 people and injuring hundreds more. Footage shared by human rights groups such as “Emergency Lawyers” depicted chaotic scenes of bloodied bodies, burning buildings, and civilians trapped under rubble. While the Sudanese Army maintains that their targets were RSF military positions, activists have insisted that the majority of those killed were innocent civilians. The damage is so severe that many of the bodies have been burned beyond recognition, making identification nearly impossible.

In Omdurman, a district in Khartoum state, RSF artillery struck a civilian bus, killing at least 20 people, including 14 passengers. Local authorities reported 65 deaths, but the full extent of the damage remains unclear. Videos from the site showed dismembered bodies and destroyed vehicles, with the region descending further into chaos.

The United Nations estimates that over 30 million people in Sudan require humanitarian aid, with approximately 12 million displaced since the fighting began. The ongoing violence is only the latest chapter in Sudan’s long history of conflict. Since gaining independence in 1956, the country has struggled to achieve peace, particularly in the Darfur region, where a brutal war has been ongoing for over two decades.

The Darfur conflict began in 2003, sparked by demands for self-determination from the central government. It escalated into a genocide, and while international intervention provided some temporary relief, Sudan has never fully recovered. In 2023, fighting erupted once again between the Sudanese Army and the RSF, which had gained significant power. The two factions, once allies, turned against each other after the 2021 coup, which saw General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan of the SAF and RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo both vying for control of the country.

Since April 2023, the battle for control of Sudan’s strategic regions, including Khartoum and Darfur, has left thousands dead and millions displaced. The RSF has gained control of several key cities in Darfur, and its reputation for brutality has grown. The group is notorious for committing atrocities, including mass killings, sexual violence, and forced displacement. As the fighting rages on, the delivery of food and humanitarian aid has been obstructed, further exacerbating the suffering of those caught in the conflict.

The humanitarian situation is dire. Over 8.8 million people have been displaced, and more than 24.8 million people require urgent assistance, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The World Food Programme reports that Darfur is experiencing severe shortages of food, water, and medical supplies, with 1.7 million people facing emergency levels of hunger.

Despite the urgency of the crisis, international attention has been limited. Analysts point to the growing focus on other global conflicts, such as in Gaza and Ukraine, as a factor contributing to the lack of significant intervention in Sudan. The risk of genocide looms once again, yet there seems to be little political will for meaningful international action.

As violence escalates and the international community remains largely indifferent, there is growing concern that Sudan could become a failed state. Experts warn that without a robust crisis response, the country may descend into conditions resembling genocide. The people of Sudan continue to suffer, with no clear path to peace or stability on the horizon.