Over 36,000 Sudanese have fled following takeover of El Fasher to RSF, says UN agency

In excess of 36,000 people have escaped Sudan's Kordofan region eastern sector of Darfur beginning Saturday, as stated by the UN's migration agency.

The strategic central area connecting the country's Darfur provinces and the Khartoum-Riverine area has over recent weeks become the recent fighting area in the two-year civil war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary group.

Massive Evacuation Numbers

An estimated 36,825 people escaped five localities in North Kordofan region between 26 October and 31 October, as reported by the International Organization for Migration.

The civilians, mainly traveling by foot, moved toward Tawila, a town western side of El Fasher that is currently housing more than 652,000 evacuated individuals.

Increased Troop Concentration

Local inhabitants of North Kordofan on Monday noted a significant increase in both RSF and army presence across urban and rural areas throughout the state.

Both forces are vying for control of El Obeid, the North Kordofan state capital and a critical supply and command center that joins Darfur to Khartoum.

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

Area Residents Describe Protection Issues

A resident of Um Smeima, located west of El Obeid, reported that the amount of RSF vehicles had risen substantially since the group's capture of El Fasher.

"We ceased visiting our farms, concerned about clashes," the resident explained.

Another civilian, who asked to remain unnamed for security reasons, 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.

International Warnings and Appeals

A senior UN official sounded warnings last week about "extensive crimes" and "ethnic-based retaliations" by RSF in Bara.

The diplomat warned of patterns comparable to patterns in Darfur, where RSF militants have been alleged to commit mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against non-Arab ethnic groups.

The spiritual head on Sunday called for an prompt truce and the creation of relief routes in Sudan, declaring that attacks on civilians and impediments to humanitarian aid "are creating unacceptable suffering."

Sudan's ambassador to Egypt on Sunday accused RSF of committing war crimes in El Fasher and declared that the Sudanese government would not discuss with the armed faction.

The representative further encouraged the world nations to classify the group as a terrorist group.

Travis Hurley
Travis Hurley

A seasoned tech journalist and digital strategist with a passion for uncovering emerging trends and simplifying complex topics for readers.