Violence Escalates in Darfur as Rival Sudanese Generals Clash: Death Toll Rises
At least twelve civilians have been killed in fighting between rival Sudanese generals in Darfur on June 25, according to a doctor in the region. The violence of the battles has made it difficult to accurately determine the death toll, however, and the source, who spoke anonymously due to security concerns, noted that movement of victims to hospital had been restricted. Residents reported battles, shelling, and artillery strikes in Nyala, located in South Darfur state.
In the battle for power between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and former deputy Rapid Support Forces paramilitary commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, the violence has taken on an ethnic dimension and could constitute "crimes against humanity". The RSF were formed from the Janjaweed militias, which were unleashed by former strongman Omar al-Bashir in response to a rebellion by ethnic minorities in Darfur, drawing accusations of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.
At least twelve civilians have been killed in fighting between rival Sudanese generals in Darfur on June 25, according to a doctor in the region. The violence of the battles has made it difficult to accurately determine the death toll, however, and the source, who spoke anonymously due to security concerns, noted that movement of victims to hospital had been restricted. Residents reported battles, shelling, and artillery strikes in Nyala, located in South Darfur state.
Since battles began in the capital Khartoum on April 15, nearly 2,800 people have been killed, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project. Additionally, almost two million people have been displaced within the country, and roughly 600,000 have fled over Sudan's borders, according to the International Organization for Migration. The United Nations has urged "immediate action" be taken to stop the killings of people fleeing El Geneina, the West Darfur state capital, by Arab militias aided by the paramilitaries. Up to 1,100 people have been killed in El Geneina, the United States State Department reported in mid-June.
Aid has reached at least 2.8 million people in Sudan, the UN said, but agencies are struggling to secure visas for foreign humanitarians and safe corridors to get aid to those in need. International donors pledged $1.5 billion in aid at a conference in Geneva last week, but this is less than half of the estimated needs for Sudan and its affected neighbors. Outside of Darfur in the capital Khartoum, the armed forces have stepped up air raids while RSF artillery targets army and police bases. Residents who remain in the city are suffering electricity and water shortages, and report artillery fire and fighting in the south of the city.