What's happened
Recent days in Sudan have seen intensified fighting between the Sudanese army and RSF, with drone strikes killing at least 75 civilians in El-Fasher, Darfur. The city remains under siege, with ongoing clashes, ethnic violence, and worsening humanitarian crises, including food shortages and disease outbreaks. The conflict has killed over 40,000 and displaced millions since April 2023.
What's behind the headline?
The recent escalation in Sudan, especially in El-Fasher, underscores the deepening humanitarian catastrophe and the failure of diplomatic efforts. The use of drone strikes by the RSF signifies a shift towards more technologically advanced and indiscriminate violence, risking further ethnic targeting and civilian casualties. The siege of El-Fasher, combined with reports of ethnically motivated killings and the destruction of civilian infrastructure, indicates a potential for further ethnic violence and war crimes. The international community's limited response has allowed the conflict to spiral, with the UN warning that the situation could worsen without urgent intervention. The ongoing violence not only prolongs suffering but also risks regional destabilization, especially with the displacement of nearly 12 million people and the collapse of essential services.
What the papers say
The Scotsman reports on the ongoing humanitarian crisis, highlighting the support provided by Scottish charities amid the conflict. AP News details recent drone strikes and military advances, emphasizing the escalation of violence and civilian casualties. Al Jazeera and The Guardian provide in-depth coverage of the drone attacks on El-Fasher, condemning the targeting of civilians and the systematic violence. The New Arab offers a comprehensive timeline of military advances and atrocities, including ethnic violence and the destruction of camps. These sources collectively portray a grim picture of a conflict that has become one of the worst humanitarian crises of the 21st century, driven by military escalation, ethnic tensions, and international neglect.
How we got here
The conflict in Sudan began in April 2023, rooted in a power struggle between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Tribal, religious, and resource-based tensions have fueled the violence, leading to mass displacement, food shortages, and widespread human rights abuses. International efforts to broker peace have so far failed, and the situation in Darfur remains particularly volatile, with ongoing military advances and atrocities reported.
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More on these topics
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The Rapid Support Forces are Sudanese paramilitary forces operated by the Sudanese Government. The RSF grew out of, and is primarily composed of, the Janjaweed militias which fought on behalf of the Sudanese government during the War in Darfur, killing an
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Sudan, officially the Republic of the Sudan, is a country in North-East Africa. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, Libya to the northwest, Chad to the west, the Central African Republic to the southwest, South Sudan to the south, Ethiopia to the southe
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The United Nations is an intergovernmental organization that aims to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations.
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Khartoum or Khartum is the capital of Sudan. With a population of 5,274,321, its metropolitan area is the largest in Sudan, the sixth-largest in Africa, the second-largest in North Africa, and the fourth-largest in the Arab world.