Over 36,000 Sudanese citizens have evacuated following capture of El Fasher to RSF, states UN agency

In excess of 36,000 people have escaped Sudan's Kordofan area eastern sector of Darfur starting Saturday, according to the UN's migration organization.

The strategic central area between the country's Darfur areas and the Khartoum-Riverine area has over recent weeks become the newest conflict zone in the extended civil war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary group.

Significant Displacement Numbers

An estimated 36,825 people escaped five localities in North Kordofan state between 26 October and 31 October, per data from the International Organization for Migration.

The individuals, most on foot, headed to Tawila, a town to the west of El Fasher that is currently sheltering more than 652,000 displaced people.

Heightened Troop Concentration

Residents of North Kordofan on Monday noted a substantial rise in both RSF and army concentration across towns and villages throughout the state.

Both forces are competing for control of El Obeid, the North Kordofan regional capital and a critical supply and command hub that connects Darfur to Khartoum.

"Today, all our forces have assembled at the Bara front here," stated an RSF member in a recently distributed video message.

Local Residents Report Security Concerns

A resident of Um Smeima, located west of El Obeid, described that the number of RSF vehicles had risen substantially since the group's takeover of El Fasher.

"We stopped going to our farms, concerned about fighting," the local explained.

Another civilian, who sought confidentiality for protection purposes, also indicated that "there has been a substantial growth in army vehicles and weapons west and south of El Obeid" over the past two weeks.

Global Alarms and Requests

A senior UN official sounded warnings last week about "widespread abuses" and "ethnically motivated reprisals" by RSF in Bara.

The official alerted to patterns echoing those in Darfur, where RSF militants have been accused of mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against certain racial groups.

The religious leader on Sunday called for an quick cessation of hostilities and the creation of relief routes in Sudan, declaring that attacks on civilians and impediments to humanitarian aid "are causing unacceptable suffering."

Sudan's official envoy to Egypt on Sunday accused RSF of perpetrating war crimes in El Fasher and announced that the Sudanese government would not negotiate with the armed faction.

The representative further called on the global community to categorize the group as a terrorist organisation.

Joseph Harris
Joseph Harris

A film critic and entertainment journalist with over a decade of experience covering Hollywood and indie cinema.