Sudan
Halting the Catastrophic Battle for Sudan’s El Fasher
Hundreds of thousands of civilians are caught in the crossfire with war intensifying in North Darfur and its capital El Fasher. Concerted pressure is needed to get all sides to de-escalate. It will be difficult, but bowing to fatalism would be inexcusable.
CrisisWatch Sudan
Deteriorated Situation
Conflict Risk Alert
Rapid Support Forces (RSF) overran Sennar’s capital and could capture entire state, expanding conflict to previously peaceful parts of Sudan; fighting in and around North Darfur’s capital El Fasher intensified further.
RSF overran Sennar’s capital and could capture entire state. RSF rapidly advanced into Sennar state, with paramilitary 29 June storming capital Sinja, seizing military base and forcing thousands to flee; RSF could take over entire state in coming weeks, expanding hostilities to previously peaceful parts of country and bringing conflict closer to Gedaref and Blue Nile states, as well as Ethiopian border.
Battle for El Fasher raged, increasingly involving ethnic militias. RSF continued to besiege El Fasher, last stronghold of Sudanese army (SAF) in North Darfur, launching offensives from multiple fronts in and around city with growing support from Arab militias. Meanwhile, SAF and allied Darfuri armed groups (which are mobilising mainly from Zaghawa community) intensified airstrikes and offensives in RSF-controlled eastern and south-eastern parts of El Fasher, as well as in RSF strongholds and Arab villages around North Darfur. Battle for city could lead to large-scale massacres along ethnic lines, while prolonged siege threatens to worsen already catastrophic humanitarian crisis. UN Security Council 13 June adopted resolution urging immediate halt to RSF’s siege of El Fasher, cessation of hostilities in area and unrestricted movement of civilians.
Violent clashes continued elsewhere. In Gezira state, RSF forces 5 June attacked Wad Al-Noura village, resulting in nearly 100 deaths; RSF claimed they engaged civilian-clad militias, while locals alleged indiscriminate killing of civilians. In West Kordofan, RSF 20 June took control of state capital, Al Fula, after intense fighting with SAF. Fighting in June also persisted in Bari city south of capital Khartoum.
AU set up new committee to facilitate talks between warring parties. AU Peace and Security Council 21 June met to discuss Sudan, leading to formation of Presidential Committee led by President Museveni of Uganda and comprising one leader from each African sub-region, whose aim is to facilitate meeting between SAF leader, Gen. Abdel Fatah al-Burhan, and RSF leader, Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo “Hemedti”.
Latest Updates
Sudan is Starving. Now What?
In this episode of The Horn, Alan is joined by Alex de Waal, leading expert on famine and Sudan and the executive director of the World Peace Foundation, to discuss the worsening hunger crisis in Sudan, where the country’s civil war has put millions on the brink of famine.
Halting the Catastrophic Battle for Sudan’s El Fasher
Hundreds of thousands of civilians are caught in the crossfire with war intensifying in North Darfur and its capital El Fasher. Concerted pressure is needed to get all sides to de-escalate. It will be difficult, but bowing to fatalism would be inexcusable.
Working with Others to Halt Sudan’s Collapse
After a year of war in Sudan, thousands have been killed and nine million are displaced. In this excerpt from the Watch List 2024 – Spring Update, Crisis Group explains how the EU and its member states can bolster mediation and respond to the humanitarian catastrophe.
War and Hunger in Gaza and Darfur
This week on Hold Your Fire!, Richard speaks with Crisis Group’s experts Alan Boswell, Shewit Woldemichael, Rami Dajani and Rob Blecher about escalating violence in Sudan’s North Darfur region, Israel’s looming offensive in the southern Gazan city of Rafah, the potential human toll and diplomatic efforts to avert both.
New U.S. Envoy on Ending Sudan’s War
In this episode of The Horn, Alan Boswell talks with Tom Perriello, U.S. Special Envoy for Sudan, about obstacles to peace in Sudan and U.S. efforts to mediate an end to the conflict after a year of fighting.
Sudan: A Year of War (with Comfort Ero)
On 15 April, Sudan will mark a year since a power struggle between two branches of its armed forces exploded into full-scale conflict. In this video, Crisis Group's President and CEO Comfort Ero reflects on the effects of these twelve months of hostilities.
What’s Left of Sudan After a Year At War?
This week on Hold Your Fire!, Richard is joined by Crisis Group experts Shewit Woldemichael and Alan Boswell to discuss the latest from Sudan after nearly a year of war.
Sudan: A Year of War
All-out fighting between rival branches of the armed forces has devastated Sudan. With millions facing famine, diplomats should push the two main belligerents much harder to accept a ceasefire – before the fragmentation in the two sides’ ranks dooms efforts to stop the carnage.
Sudan on the Brink of Famine
This week on The Horn, Alan speaks with Alsanosi Adam, an active member of Sudan’s Emergency Response Rooms, about the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Sudan as famine looms and the challenges grassroots networks face in getting vital aid to civilians across the country.
Subscribe to Crisis Group’s Email Updates
Receive the best source of conflict analysis right in your inbox.