December 3
55 MUSICIANS KILLED SINCE ERUPTION OF WAR.
Among the victims were popular singer and pro-peace activist Shaden Hussein, keyboardist Ibrahim Miko…a pillar in iconic Muhmoud Aziz’s band and melodist Bashir Abdul Majeed. The 3 sustained injuries then died when they didn’t receive medical care as most health facilities have knocked down under the war. Percussionist Kamil Hussein died under torture…by the RSF…. Sudanese Cultural and historical landmarks have been attacked during this war starting with RSF fighters entering the Natl Museum in Khartoum and…attacks on buildings of the Natl Radio & TV Corp, theatres and venues frequented by artists and creative people. Though musicians and theatre actors are generally considered the most impacted by war and have been subject of hate speech, some of them allied with the warring parties using their art to propagate each party’s view of war. Nevertheless, many artists produced artistic works and came up with initiatives calling for ending the war. Khartoum-Kampala based African Centre for Justice & Peace Studies is a human rights organisation dedicated to creating a Sudan committed to all human rights. Altaghyeer
ONLY 7 OUT OF 80 PRIVATE HOSPITALS FUNCTION IN KHARTOUM. Sudan Doctors Union blamed the paramilitary RSF of being a major party in the destruction and looting of medical facilities in a flagrant violation of combat laws. …medical care installations have been destroyed or used as military facilities….The financial losses resulting from these criminal acts amount to $121 million. Altaghyeer
December 2
STATE OF EMERGENCY EXTENDED IN ATBARA CITY…for a month in the wake of new series of drone attacks launched by the RSF. Drone attacks targeted…the airport in Atbara, 267k north of Khartoum. Since Nov 18, many drone attacks have targeted Atbara Airport which is being rehabilitated to serve as international airport. …the drones are long range launched from a distance of more than 300k. Altaghyeer
December 1
RSF SET UP CIVILIAN ADMINISTRATION IN KHARTOUM STATE. The Civilian Foundress Council established by the paramilitary RSF elected Prof Abdellatif El Hasan as head of the new civil administration. Prof Nayel Babikr was elected president. CFC is the legislative body of the state. The press conference was held in Khartoum in the presence of the chair of the Advisory Council of RSF Comm Abu Nuba, head of the RSF Guidance Dept. Babikr stated that an executive body will be formed “to provide basic services and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to needy citizens of Khartoum state”. Following the outbreak of a full-fledged war between SAF and RSF, RSF occupied large parts of Khartoum. Later that year, they took control of 4 of 5 Darfur states, parts of 3 Cordovan states, and El Gezira. RSF Dagalo in Sept strongly opposed “creation of an alternative capital” by the de facto government in Pt Sudan,…threatened to set up “a genuine civilian authority” in areas under its control, with Khartoum as capital. Dabanga
November 29
SUDAN-ERITREA MILITARY ALLIANCE RISKS IGNITING TRIBAL CONFLICT. El Burhan, concluded a one-day visit to Eritrea’s capital amid escalating turmoil in Sudan. Talks focused on security coordination, military collaboration and economic ties, resulting in agreements reaffirming Eritrea’s willingness to play a modest but tactical role in assisting its neighbour. Pres Afwerki reiterated Eritrea’s position that Sudan’s crisis must be resolved by its own people, with regional support. Observers believe the visit sought to secure Eritrea as a key ally of Sudan’s armed forces while addressing the sensitive issue of armed groups operating in Eritrea’s western region. Eritrea hosts camps for eastern Sudanese armed movements, with factions Beja Congress and United Popular Front for Liberation & Justice aligning with Sudan’s military. Eritrea, a staunch ally of the SAF, is pushing for a “security belt” along its borders to prevent conflict spill over. Afwerki’s commitment to regional stability extends to military readiness, signalling potential intervention if Sudan’s war escalates to eastern states like Kassala, El Dogeared or the Red Sea. Political analyst Khaled Mohamed Taha told Radio Dabanga that Eritrea’s actions align with its broader security and economic interests…. Eastern Sudan has emerged as a hotspot of escalating tensions, with multiple armed groups…deploying forces in coordination with the SAF. These movements, many of which are tied to Eritrean training camps, raise fears of clashes among armed factions and the shift into potential tribal violence. Eastern Battalion…now appears aligned with the SAF, intensifying concerns that eastern militias are being integrated into SAF operations against RSF. Observers warn this could transform the conflict into a broader tribal war, pulling in historically allied tribes from neighbouring regions and across Eritrea’s borders. The establishment of Eritrean training camps…adds a dangerous layer to the region’s militarisation. Political analysts highlight that this militarisation, combined with eastern Sudan’s geostrategic importance…vital Red Sea ports and resource-rich territories, potentially exacerbating tribal polarisation and posing a significant threat to stability.
COMPLEX CONDITIONS IN W KORDOFAN LEAD TO EXTREMELY DIRE HUMANITARIAN SITUATION. People living in W Kordofan seem to be cut off from the rest of Sudan because of the complex security situation. The residents suffer from hunger, dire health services and the inability of aid organisations to reach the region. Desperate heads of families marry their daughters off to RSF soldiers in exchange for food and protection.
W Kordofan is currently divided in areas dominated by the army and areas controlled by the paramilitary RSF which took control of the state capital El Fula. Howeida Abdelrahman, Mizna Charity Org, told Radio Dabanga about the challenges: “One should take care not to side with one of the warring parties, as governance in the state is divided between the 2. When launching projects, it is necessary to follow the division between the northern and southern parts of the state. It is really difficult to move between the various localities within the state borders. We now design projects that can be entirely implemented locally, so people do not have to travel.” Abdelrahman described the humanitarian situation as “extremely dire, and this is the least that can be said about it. In large areas of the state, people are very hungry, despite the excellent agricultural season this year. The problem is that most families have lost their already limited sources of income. Although the price of…millet dropped this year, no one is able to buy it as the war impoverished most of the people here. The latest statistics reported 16,000 cases of malnutrition in 8 localities.” …the collapse of the health care in the state also seriously affects children and mothers, especially pregnant women. “… residents of the southern parts of the state suffer from genetic diseases such as sickle cell anaemia. As necessary medicines are lacking, many children have already died of the disease.” Civil society activist Buseina Hamad confirmed that the displaced in W Kordofan live in “very difficult, catastrophic conditions” and “not only fled their homes but are suffering from hunger, diseases and loss of loved ones.” In El Fula, several displaced families are marrying off their young daughters to RSF officers. “In this way, they hope to get protection and some financial support from the groom.”
November 28
300 COLOMBIAN EX-SOLDIERS REPORTEDLY FIGHTING IN SUDAN, according to La Silla Vacía. …soldiers were drawn into the ongoing conflict through a cross-border operation involving 4 countries, chiefly spearheaded by UAE….Colombian ex-soldiers being recruited under false pretences by Colombian company Intl Svcs Agency A4SI, with promises of securing oil infrastructure in UAE. Instead, they were transported to Libya, where they were handed over to the RSF. The operation highlights a transnational network spanning Colombia, UAE, Libya and Sudan, involving private security firms, paramilitary groups and alleged backing from UAE, accused of supporting RSF in violation of international arms embargoes. Fears are mounting among some Colombian troops that refusal to fight alongside the RSF could result in their execution. Colombian soldiers reportedly signed confidentiality agreements with…UAE’s first licensed armed security company. The company reportedly aims to deploy 1,500-1,800 Colombian soldiers in Sudan. SAF, activists and various stakeholders accused UAE of fuelling Sudan’s conflict by supplying weapons to the RSF. Dabanga
November 25
WITH NOWHERE ELSE TO GO, SUDANESE REFUGEES IN LEBANON PLEAD FOR EVACUATION. Sudanese asylum seekers gathered to listen to Abdel Baqi Othman in a cafe in Lebanon’s capital Beirut. The well-respected Sudanese activist spoke passionately about how asylum seekers were trapped between the civil war in their homeland and Israel’s invasion of Lebanon. He implored UNHCR to relocate registered Sudanese asylum seekers and refugees to Italy, Turkey or Cyprus until their applications could be processed, or permanently resettled elsewhere. In the crowd was Abdelmoniem Yahiya Othman, who held a sign that read, “No racism, no social violence. Stop killing civilians and children. We know the UN can distribute refugees and asylum seekers to different [safe] countries, but they are not doing anything. We want to go to a place where the people are not at war.”
Sudanese nationals applied for asylum in Lebanon since the war in Sudan began. Yahiya, a 38-year-old with stubble around his chin and dark shadows under his eyes, is one. As a “non-Arab” from Darfur, he fears he could be persecuted from both sides…based on his ethnicity. RSF largely made up of “Arab” (nomadic) tribes from Darfur and elsewhere has targeted non-Arab communities. Yahiya and his wife Nokada were working on a farm in the southern governorate when Israel began carpet-bombing Lebanon. His employer fled, ordering the couple to stay and protect the farm. Without a car to escape in or a shelter, they endured several terrifying days as bombs lit up the night sky…. “At night, I would see Israel fire missiles and drop cluster bombs from the air…so scary. I remember watching them break off into little fragments and fall all around us. 10 days later, he and his wife decided to head to Beirut on foot. They walked for days, stopping at villages along the way where they stayed with friends and peers to rest. They trekked 19 mi, passing a long line of cars stuck in traffic, sometimes having to climb over piles of rubble from damaged homes. When they finally reached Sidon, about 27 mi from the capital, they hitched a ride with Syrian and Sudanese people heading to Beirut. …went to the only place that would accept them: The Sudanese Cultural Club…established in 1967 as a social place for a community that has long suffered from racial discrimination in the country. The club is tucked away behind a wall of green trees and bushes. The roomy interior has two large living rooms, two toilets and a basic kitchen. A large Sudanese flag hangs on the wall, facing several well-used comfy sofas and wooden tables. The Sudanese community gathered there to celebrate holidays, attend cultural events, socialise and eat meals together. Sudanese men would play cards, smoke and drink tea all night. Since Israel’s invasion, the club has sheltered displaced Sudanese nationals, along with other migrant workers. While many moved on, Yahiya and Nokada are still there with several other families. Sometimes being there is not comfortable due to tensions over the lack of space and toilets but the displaced people cooperate to cook, clean and take care of each other. According to the Intl Org for Migration there are 11,500 Sudanese nationals in Lebanon. …541 are counting on Othman and community leaders calling for evacuation. “UNHCR says it doesn’t evacuate. That’s not true and they’re lying to us.” He referenced evacuations UNHCR oversaw from Libya, where 2,400 were relocated to Rwanda…2019-24….Since 2017, 12,000 have been evacuated from Libya due to the abuse and exploitation they face from fighter groups and traffickers….UNHCR is very wary of setting up additional evacuations because it will set up a domino effect whereby refugees across the world will begin requesting [temporary] evacuations. Dalal Harb, UNHCR in Lebanon: “the evacuations from Libya were responses to a specific crisis and were not intended as permanent frameworks.” …many asylum seekers…will likely resort to smugglers if they can afford them. Smugglers often put vulnerable people on overcrowded dinghies and push them in the direction of Europe – many arrived in Cyprus from Lebanon, more and more Sudanese asylum seekers will look for any route out of Lebanon if the situation deteriorates. …most asylum seekers do not have the money to escape. Those who do…pay $2,000-$3,000 to reach Turkey. “We worry that the situation here could get worse. But we don’t have money…we have no choice but to rely on the UNHCR.” Al Jazeera
November 22
US ENVOY…DOESN’T SEE ENOUGH POLITICAL APPETITE FROM WARRING PARTIES TO RESOLVE THE CONFLICT. Tom Perriello…travelled to Pt Sudan…to meet with Sudanese officials, including head of the military Gen. Burhan…. He said any solution “has got to be about handing control back to the people.” Sudan had been trying to establish a civilian government after a popular uprising forced the removal of longtime dictator al-Bashir in 2019. “The numbers are so large that you can’t even get your head around the scale of human suffering”. He decried the situation in which the warring parties continue to commit atrocities while civilians are trapped in the chaos. “What we know is the numbers are astronomical,…the death toll is probably more than anything that’s been estimated.” Perriello worked on crises in Dem Rep of Congo, Afghanistan and Sierra Leone, had never been involved in a disaster on such a massive scale that is getting so little attention from the rest of the world. AfricaNews
November 20
AU OPPOSITION TO MILITARY COUPS INCLUDING 2021 TAKEOVER IN SUDAN, and called for a ceasefire and renewed political dialogue to resolve the ongoing conflict. Sudan is pushing for reinstatement of its AU membership, suspended after the coup. Al-Buchanan…insists the AU cannot mediate the country’s conflict until sanctions…are lifted. “AU’s position is constant: zero tolerance for unconstitutional coups,” Bankole Adenoid, Political Affairs, Peace & Security. “We believe that a military solution to the crisis cannot be achieved without the participation of active civilian and political actors.” Adenoid condemned external interference in Africa, citing Sudan and Libya specifically. He highlighted AU efforts to counter the use of mercenaries. He said the AU was focused on addressing key issues in Sudan, including balancing power between central and peripheral regions, protecting the rights of marginalized groups, preventing ethnic cleansing and ensuring aid delivery. He underscored the need to address external interference as a key driver of the Sudanese crisis. Sudan Tribune
DEATH TOLL FROM RSF SIEGE OF WAD ASHIB 69.…“The militia killed 42 of them by shooting…27 others died due to the siege and lack of treatment.” Witnesses said RSF fighters forced large numbers of residents, including women, children and the elderly, from their homes. They are now sheltering on the banks of the Blue Nile with inadequate access to sanitation, shelter, medicine and food. Sudan Tribune
10 PEOPLE KILLED WHEN RSF ATTACKED TEKINA…A 2ND DAY. Residents repelled the initial assault, killing 4 RSF fighters. RSF returned with reinforcements. “They attacked the town again this morning with greater force, but they were met with resistance,” a resident told Sudan Tribune. RSF then shelled the town…, killing 6 people and wounding others….The attacks are part of RSF’s campaign of retaliation against villages in eastern Al Jahangir following the defection of local RSF commander Alike to the Army. The resident expressed concern that the RSF might carry out a massacre in Kinase and the ongoing siege would prevent delivery of food and medicine. Kinase, 68 mi north of Wad Madani, was also attacked by the RSF in May, resulting in deaths of 18.
November 19
RUSSIAN FEDERATION VETOED RESOLUTION BACKED BY UK in the Security Council. The draft…garnered support from 14 members but was vetoed by Moscow. US and UK blasted Russia for vetoing the resolution…Moscow went against the Sudanese government’s will. However, the Sudanese Foreign Min…commended the veto: “The government of Sudan commends the Russian position, which came as an expression of…respect for the sovereignty of states and international law….”
So why did Russia veto the resolution? Russia argued that the resolution, which aims to impose a ceasefire on all sides and facilitate humanitarian aid, infringes on Sudan’s sovereignty. According to watchdogs, the final draft of the resolution contained references to “parties to the conflict,” equating the RSF on one end and SAF and authorities on the other. These references were made in relation to the facilitation of humanitarian aid assistance, cessation of hostilities, adherence to intl humanitarian law, avoiding attacks on civilians and preventing…conflict-related sexual violence. China’s representative noted…that UNSC constructive proposals were not taken on board and their legitimate concerns were not given sufficient attention. China stressed that any resolution or action taken by the council must “respect the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Sudan. Imposing external solutions will only further complicate the situation and will not help bring an end to the war nor serve the goal of protecting civilians.” Russia’s representative said “The main problem with the UK draft is that it has a false understanding of who bears responsibility for protection of civilians, and border control and security control.” This…”should solely be the Government of Sudan.” UK invited Algeria, Mozambique, Sierra Leone and Guyana to co-author the resolution. However, the…nations could not agree on key issues and Sierra Leone was the only nation to join the UK. Algeria’s delegate called for “strong and public condemnation of foreign interferences in Sudan”. Foreign Secy Lammy will visit the Sec Council tomorrow and call on SAF to keep the vital Andre border crossing from Chad open indefinitely and remove all restrictions, which have limited the amount of aid coming through it. The Secy will also call on SAF and RSF to stop blocking aid convoys. Altaghyeer
November 15
EGYPTIAN AND SUDANESE SMUGGLERS DETAIL TACTICS USED TO TAKE GOLD AND PEOPLE THROUGH THE BORDER. The trade, which involves tens of thousands of people and has drawn in people from countries beyond Sudan and Egypt, is part of a web of organized crime…along the border. Gold can be found in the Eastern Desert, east of the Nile in the triangle region between Egypt, Sudan and Libya. British, Russian, Australian and international players are all involved in the rush for gold….Sudanese mining patches have been opened or expanded in Red Sea, Northern and River Nile states since the war broke. Sites close to the Egyptian border are noticeably successful for logistical reasons, particularly easy transportation of supplies. “We would go with the gold to the country where the prices are higher. In the past we went to Sudan but recently Egypt is much more feasible as prices are higher.” Dozens of Sudanese gold miners come to Aswan’s gold markets to sell the gold but because the activity is illegal the gold has usually been smuggled by organized gangs. Huge amounts of gold have been smuggled from Sudan to Egypt, while cheap fuel, arms and other goods go back the other way. “The individuals who are coming legally through the borders are always trying to hide the gold in their clothes or women are hiding it on their person.” When people were being smuggled if they were crossing the border illegally they might be asked by the smuggler driving the car to hide the gold, sometimes in exchange for getting a free ride. The mountains and deserts of northern Sudan and southern Egypt provided the perfect environment for a network smuggling people not just from Sudan but also from Ethiopia, Eritrea and elsewhere in Africa. …strong, armed men from tribes on both sides of the border are the main dealers bringing gold from Sudan. “I send my gold through those strong tribal men, who know the secret routes….They take a commission from the gold…” In the mountains around Aswan and southern Egypt, including Luxor, Kom Ombo and Edfu, gold is handed over between the smuggler and the group taking it. A driver involved in smuggling operations: “One of the main tactics to cover the operations is to change the car you use to bring the gold across the border. Sometimes I sell the car immediately when I enter Egypt.”
As smuggling becomes bigger and bigger business, Egyptian authorities are accused of turning a blind eye with the country needing to increase gold reserves to support the Egyptian pound…. Egyptian gold reserves increased in 2023 to 126 tonnes, an all time high. Egypt rapidly increased its revenues from gold production from $6bn in 2022 to…$9.5bn in 2024. A Sudanese researcher said Egypt’s policy of increasing gold reserves has led to an increase in demand and hiking of gold prices. …“Since 2022, international gold prices increased 2% while in Egypt they have gone up 16%. In Sudan, the price for a gram of 21-k gold is $60, while in Egypt it is more than $80. …this has fuelled the ambitions of gold traders and smugglers looking to profit,…we are not just talking about individual traders.” Middle East Eye
CENTRAL BANK MEASURE ENCOURAGES ILLEGAL CURRENCY TRADE….Central Bank of Sudan announced issuance of a new banknote…to improve security for banknotes and achieve economic stability after many banks have been plundered. According to economist El Hadi Habbani the measure is counterproductive. The plundering “resulted in spread of large quantities of banknotes of unknown origin…,which led to a clear increase in cash liquidity and negative impact on the stability of the general price level. Habbani believes the main reason to issue new banknotes is to reduce wealth of RSF. “The de facto government in Pt Sudan wants to significantly reduce liquidity RSF accumulated before and after the war. RSF plundered banks in the capital and cities, robbed traders and others of cash savings, and printed huge amounts of money, especially large denominations, 25% of currency in circulation. For years RSF is dominating a large part of the hard currency market. The de facto government does not care about inflation, recession, sovereignty of the national currency, safety of the banking system or the people. It does not prioritise liquidity, nor does it care about the balance between money supply and volume of goods and services. …authorities used printing extra money as a major source for financing the budget deficit and the war, in addition to revenues from export of gold reserves….” “Almost all the production and service sectors have been destroyed. Dabanga
November 9
WASHINGTON DID NOT ENGAGE WITH CRISIS IN SUDAN AT A HIGH LEVEL. “I’m pretty sure Trump can’t find Sudan on a map. He likes to hand all of that over to the people around him. But he does like to pick sides.” A lack of interest in Sudan would hardly be a change for a US president. As the war has raged on, as the crisis has become ever worse, the absence of any real engagement from Washington has become more stark. While Biden came into office promising not just to repair US relations with Africa, but to deepen them, he has not set foot on the continent as president. He has barely mentioned Sudan in public and had not engaged with it diplomatically, focusing instead on…Ukraine and Israel. “Sudan never made it to Biden’s desk, really,” Kholood Khair, Sudanese analyst, Confluence Advisory….in the months leading up to the start of Sudan’s war, the US had been very involved in the framework agreement…for a transition back to civilian rule. One of the major sticking points was reabsorption of RSF into the army….This was never resolved, but the US…missed the signs that war was coming and this would be the spark. “The Americans had such a big hand in the framework agreement, so their lack of responsibility when the war broke out was even more egregious.” Responding to pressure from civil society, the US appointed a special envoy for Sudan, Perriello. Perriello….has not been to Sudan, where the war is taking place, or UAE, the main patron of the RSF. High-level Emirati officials will not meet with Perriello and senior figures in the Biden administration are unwilling to seriously press on its role in fuelling the war. Cameron Hudson, Centre for Strategic & Intl Studies and former chief of staff to special envoys for Sudan, said the problem with Biden’s approach…was that he raised expectations then did nothing to meet them: “Africans didn’t ask for that, Biden offered it, and then didn’t live up to it. Perriello is “completely untethered from the kind of high-level support required to really move the needle”. While Trump’s return is momentous, some analysts argue that US policy in Sudan and the Middle East may not change very much in the immediate term. “Trump’s return to the US presidency is characterised by an even stronger anti-liberal stance… Jalel Harchaoui, Royal United Svcs Inst. “This might theoretically seem to favor authoritarian figures like Hemeti, UAE’s bin Zayed, and Libya’s Haftar. But in real life, the Biden admin had already abandoned any form of liberal idealism in Sudan. US pressure on Sudan is non-existent….the forces already at play will likely continue operating while American involvement remains inconsequential.” During Trump’s first term…the priority was Israel.
Domestic developments in Sudan…were not on Trump’s radar. When Sudan entered his purview, it was because of Israel. In 2020, then-US president announced Sudan might follow UAE and Bahrain and become 3rd Arab country to normalise relations with Israel….Sudan had become a pawn in a vision shared by Trump and Netanyahu, Palestinians became more and more isolated as one Arab state after another established full relations with Israel in exchange for favours from Washington. “I don’t think Sudan is going to be on Trump’s desk. Sudan will continue to be seen through the prism of US allies: Egypt, Saudi Arabia and UAE,” said Khair. “…for Trump his 2 core policies for the Middle East, which Sudan sort of falls under, are anti-Iran and pro-Israel and pro-Abraham Accords…” “I think Sudan is going to be an addendum in a Trump administration to his wider Middle East and Gulf policy,” Hudson said…“a bargaining chip that can be offered to exchange for something else. The resolution of the war in Sudan under Trump will be the byproduct of a much larger deal.” With Trump, and the US right wing…, keen to slash humanitarian aid wherever possible, the situation in Sudan could become ever darker as fighting picks up with the dry season. “It doesn’t look very good either way for Sudan,…it will not be judged on its own merits, its own severity, its own development, but rather on the humanitarian side through the prism of Trump’s domestic fiscal policy and then on the political side, the Gulf and Israel.” Middle East Eye