May 25
KHARTOUM CHOLERA OUTBREAK DUE TO ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION. 600 confirmed cases of cholera per week during the past 4 weeks….Min for Health attributed the outbreak…to environmental degradation following the army recapture of areas and return of residents, particularly Jebel Awlia and Salha, with acute lack of clean drinking water and poor environmental conditions. The Min praised the efforts exerted by Khartoum State government in collaboration with UN agencies and international organizations in establishment of at least 8 cholera treatment centres and boosted disease control efforts. Cholera resurgence has been reported in 6 other states where localities took the drastic precautionary measure of closing down schools and markets places…. Al Taghyeer
KHARTOUM STATE 24 CHOLERA DEATHS IN 1 DAY. Min of Health…launched a vaccination campaign as hundreds of cases of cholera are reported daily in Khartoum and Omdurman….This has been exacerbated by an 11-day power outage after 3 power generation points were destroyed by drone attacks, which compromised the drinking water supply, compelling residents to draw water directly from the Nile. Min says more than 80 cases of cholera were recorded daily in Omdurman. Médecins Sans Frontières say 2,500 cases of cholera were recorded in Khartoum and Omdurman in 3 weeks, including 500 cases in 1 day. Vaccination campaign has begun in Jebel Auliya, …and will start in 4 more localities in coming days. Reports say electricity has begun to gradually return to Omdurman after an 11-day outage…. Dabanga
SUDANESE POLITICAL GROUPS CALLED ON AU TO RECONSIDER STATEMENTS BY MAHMOUD ALI YOUSSOUF WELCOMING APPOINTMENT OF PM BY ARMY CHIEF AL-BURHAN.Kamil Idris, former UN official, has been appointed new PM. AU suspended Sudan’s participation…after the military…ousted the civilian-led government of PM Hamdok. AU Comm for Peace & Security Adeoye said resumption of Sudan’s activities was conditional on “clear steps” towards constitutional and democratic transition. Sudanese authorities led by Burhan hope to have the suspension lifted and held informal meetings with AU…. Smoud/Resilience alliance condemned remarks by Youssef in which he expressed optimism about the armed forces’ progress. The alliance called the remarks a “clear violation” of AU regulations, which do not recognize the legitimacy of any government in Sudan since the 2021 coup.
Suleiman, United Civil Forces Qimam/Summits, urged AU to review its commissioner’s stance, that welcoming the PM’s appointment “casts doubt on his impartiality”. …that Burhan’s administration lacks legitimacy: “The decisions and decrees issued by al-Burhan are not based on any constitutional legitimacy.” Salih, Arab Ba’ath Socialist Party, told Sudan Tribune he believed the AU Comm had been seeking a formula for engaging with military authorities in Pt Sudan as a de facto reality for about a year, particularly after the war erupted… Salih said the AU Comm was hesitant because such a move would violate its charter and regulations by legitimizing coups which the AU charter explicitly opposes, and due to the Pt Sudan authority’s lack of domestic and international acceptance. …the move would not be popularly welcomed nor signal genuine democratic transition by the “de facto authority in Pt Sudan.” …it represented “a recycling of military authority under a civilian guise, which disappoints the hopes of the Sudanese people…for the AU to…restore the path of civilian democratic transition and hold accountable perpetrators of the coup and igniting the war.”
FARMERS BATTLE WAR’S ECONOMIC SCARS TO REVIVE CENTRAL SUDAN FARMLANDS. In central Sudan, farmer Qouz is preparing for his first planting season since conflict erupted, battling fears of failure as he and thousands of others in Sennar and El Gezira face collapsed irrigation, halted funding and severe lack of farm equipment. Qouz, cultivating land in Sennar’s El Suki Agricultural Project, told
Ayin that returning to his farm, scarred by war for 2 years, is his “sole source of livelihood.” As the summer season approaches, land preparation in El Gezira and Sennar, Sudan’s largest farming schemes, appears minimal, threatening reduced cultivation despite government pledges. Farmers are most concerned about the absence of financing. Many carry pre-war debts, making new loans difficult to secure. Agricultural Bank demanded repayments, even imprisoning some farmers. El Gezira and Sennar endured severe disruption since the RSF swept through in Dec 2023. The invasion brought farming to a near standstill with widespread looting of machinery, fertilisers, pesticides and harvested crops. This loss, coupled with mounting debts, makes returning to the land perilous, even in areas the army recaptured. Sennar’s government pitched an intensive agricultural plan, seeing farming as vital to exiting the economic crisis. Min of Production announced preparations for the season “despite the challenges.” However, these promises have limited impact on the ground.
Qouz highlighted systemic problems especially its dilapidated irrigation system: “The project covers 52,000 hectares and relies on 4 dilapidated pumps dating to 1970. Main irrigation canals collapsed, ditches need clearing and the entire irrigation system needs rebuilding.” In 2022, a farmers’ initiative received 1 trillion Sudanese pounds from the Bank for fertilisers and diesel. “Members of this initiative, many not real farmers, did not repay the loan, which deprived serious farmers of funding until now.” Qouz criticised agricultural unions, accusing NCP affiliates of dominating them since the 90s and strengthening their influence instead of addressing farmers’ problems.
The situation is no better in Sennar’s Kassab Agricultural Project. Farmer El Noor lamented the lack of government preparations, particularly clearing irrigation canals. “…neither Blue Nile Irrigated Projects management nor the state has made any preparations. The Rowena irrigation pump is ready, but infrastructure, especially irrigation canals, completely collapsed.”…promises from an investor to finance operations evaporated due to high costs. …farmers carried out initial cleaning operations but “are waiting for someone to fund them, as they have no other source of livelihood than agriculture.” An upfront electricity bill payment adds another burden. In El Gezira, farmers face similar funding challenges, according to El Hadi: “Farmers are living in extreme fear due to the Bank’s demand for pre-war debts, which they could not repay due to failed harvest and RSF looting. Farmers in El Qurashi were imprisoned due to complaints from the Bank. These measures are expected to affect thousands of defaulters, threatening to derail the agricultural season…” The El Gezira and El Managil project, founded in 1925 and spanning 924,000 hectares, is 1 of Africa’s largest irrigated schemes, supporting millions of Sudanese.
Agricultural engineer Osman believes lack of funding and rising input costs threaten self-sufficiency: “Funding under company or bank conditions has a negative impact due to high cost, which pushes farmers to reduce cultivated areas and focus on less costly crops like sorghum, affecting diversity and productivity.” Engineer Abdallah… confirmed that rapid currency fluctuations led to significant rise in input prices, causing huge losses for companies. Regarding fuel: “The problem is not so much availability as obtaining approvals. …the cost of diesel and fertilisers is very high and fuel is scarce.” Abdullah stressed that rain-fed agricultural localities…experienced widespread looting of crops and machinery by RSF, resulting in massive financial losses. Irrigation projects suffered significant damage to pumps and canals. Despite the grim outlook, Abdallah anticipates cotton will be cultivated over 168,000 hectares, and sorghum and sesame over larger areas: “There is optimism among some citizens who sold personal belongings to finance cultivation, but the general halt in production remains the dominant feature.” While farmers in central Sudan courageously struggle to bring life back to their lands, the absence of financial support, dilapidated infrastructure, security threats and harsh banking practices could turn their hopes into a mirage. The upcoming agricultural season hinges on urgent and radical interventions to ensure the livelihoods of millions who depend on this land. Dabanga/Ayin Network/Sudan Media Forum
May 23
US WILL IMPOSE SANCTIONS AFTER DETERMINING…THE MILITARY USED CHEMICAL WEAPONS while fighting rival paramilitary forces. “US calls on the Govt of Sudan to cease all chemical weapons use and uphold its obligations” under the Chemical Weapons Conv….Congress has been notified of the decision and sanctions which include restrictions on US exports to Sudan and a block on access to US lines of credit. NYT reported that government forces used chemical weapons on 2 occasions in remote parts of Sudan against the RSF. The report cited US officials who said the weapon may have been chlorine gas, which can lead to severe respiratory pain and death. Al Jazeera
May 22
AU SUPPORT OF NEW PM SPARKS UPROAR…. AU’s cautious endorsement of Dr Kamil El Tayeb Idris as newly appointed civilian PM has been met with mixed reactions ….Chairperson Youssouf praised the appointment as a potential step toward restoring democratic governance….reaffirmed commitment to Sudan’s unity, sovereignty and stability….Youssouf’s remarks triggered a firestorm of criticism. His previous comment…where he lauded SAF for regaining control in parts of the country, were seen by some as aligning too closely with the military…. Sudanese Congress Party told Al Jazeera AU’s statements were “contradictory to the Union’s declared stance” and no military solution would resolve Sudan’s deepening crisis. The appointment of Idris… divided opinion across Sudan’s political and military landscape. Justice & Equality Movement welcomed the decision. …marked the end of an “executive vacuum” and a critical step towards democratic civilian governance. …Haroun, former head of now-dissolved Natl Congress Party and wanted by the ICC, backed Idris. Sudanese Congress Party was more scathing….called the appointment “a desperate attempt to beautify the face of the Pt Sudan government” and could deepen internal divisions.…only negotiations to end the war, followed by a consensual political process, could put Sudan back on the democratic path. Secy-Gen Guterres said Idris’s appointment should serve as “a first step” towards forming a broad-based technocratic government…. IGAD called for all parties to engage in national consultations to restore constitutional rule and establish peace….immediate ceasefire, only a cessation of hostilities would “ending civilian suffering, enabling humanitarian access and creating an environment conducive to dialogue.” Sudanese Communist Party denounced AU’s recognition of Idris as a breach of its charter, insisting the appointment came from a “coup government with no popular mandate.” Socialist Arab Ba’ath Party echoed that view, describing the appointment “an unconstitutional move” driven by “external interests keen on sustaining dictatorship to exploit Sudan’s resources.” Democratic Unionist Party called for swift formation of the new civilian government and backed Idris as non-partisan…. Dabanga
May 21
ARMY DECLARED KHARTOUM STATE COMPLETELY FREE OF REBELS. This comes after Sudan’s army secured a number of victories…in and around the capital…that culminated in taking back Khartoum airport from the RSF….In March, al-Burhan declared “Khartoum is free”…although smaller battles were ongoing with RSF militias in pockets. Al Jazeera’s Hiba Morgan said intense battles raged in recent days in southern Omdurman’s Salha area, the last major RSF stronghold and home to one of the group’s largest military bases: “The army had been making gradual advances…until it was able to take control completely….” After more than 2 years of a devastating civil war that…attracted foreign funding and weapons, control remains torn between the 2 generals and their allies. SAF dominates the north and east including the smallest state but most populous, Khartoum along with some central areas, while RSF holds most of western Sudan, including most of Darfur. Where RSF has been forced back it has been trying to inflict damage with drone strikes, including…energy infrastructure in Khartoum and Pt Sudan. Fighting has been ongoing in el-Fasher as well as key supply lines in Kordofan. May 20 KHARTOUM ACCUSES UAE OF DIRECT INVOLVEMENT IN DRONE STRIKES ON PORT SUDAN. Amb Idriss alleged the operation was launched from a UAE military base with support from Emirati naval vessels in the Red Sea. It is the first time Sudan accused the Gulf state of direct military intervention…. Idriss claimed the 4 May strike was revenge for an army attack…on an Emirati warplane in RSF-controlled Nyala. Khartoum recently cut diplomatic ties with UAE, accusing it of arming and funding the rebel group in the deadly war….Up until now, Pt Sudan has been seen as a safe haven for government officials, diplomats and humanitarian organisations. But since the start of the month, it has been hit with a volley of drone strikes, largely against army facilities, the main airport and fuel depots. The government is calling on UN, AU and Arab League to investigate…. Redaction AfricaNews
CLASHES ERUPTED IN OMDURMAN AS ARMY LAUNCHED LARGE SCALE OFFENSIVE TO DISLODGE RSF in Khartoum State.Explosions were heard in eastern Omdurman, 15 mi from RSF positions. The paramilitary forces had withdrawn there after losing control of central Khartoum. Burhan named former UN official Kamil Idris as PM in what analysts see as an attempt to present a functioning civilian-led administration. …aimed at showing progress and appealing to the AU after Sudan’s membership was suspended in 2021, said Kholood Khair. Burhan wants to: “maintain power but share liability…because everything is now blamed on him” as he seeks to consolidate control. In April, RSF said it would form its own government, though analysts say it is unlikely to win international backing. After a major battlefield victory when the army recaptured most of Khartoum, RSF launched deep attacks into army-held territory. Long-range drone strikes…targeted key infrastructure…including wartime capital Pt Sudan and power stations supplying electricity to millions. Relegated to their last major bases in Salha, RSF launched attacks across Khartoum, including drone strikes on 3 power stations that knocked out electricity. “The magnitude of these drone attacks represents a major escalation, with alarming implications for civilian
protection,” UN human rights expert Radhouane Nouicer. “The recurrent attacks on critical infrastructure place civilian lives at risk, worsen the humanitarian crisis and undermine basic human rights.” It has also effectively carved Africa’s 3rd-largest country in two, the army holding the center, north and east, while RSF controls nearly all the vast western region of Darfur and, with allies, parts of the south. Al Arabiya
May 19
GOLD AND FINANCING WAR IN SUDAN: FROM CHAOS TO TOOLS OF CONTROL.For millennia, gold was the backbone of civilizations that flourished, particularly the kingdoms of Kush and Napata. The region was known to ancient Egyptians and Greeks as Nubia or “Land of Gold,” reflecting the abundance of this precious metal and its link to sovereignty and trade. What was once a symbol of sovereignty has…become a driver of chaos and division. Gold is now exploited to fund conflicts and smuggled under…institutional weakness and collapse of state structures. Despite Sudan’s vast gold reserves, among the largest in Africa, this wealth has largely fueled war and illicit trade rather than supporting the national economy. 50-80% of output is smuggled primarily through UAE. RSF and the Army financed their operations with gold revenues….
Sudan’s gold sector boomed after 2010, peaking in 2016. Production dropped in 2022 before climbing in 2024. Despite increased production, revenues declined from $2.02b in 2022 to $1.6b in 2024 even as global gold prices rose 30%.Gold has become a pillar of Sudan’s informal economy, traded outside the banking system. Some registered companies are involved in smuggling backed by security agencies, while mining concessions are awarded based on political ties….70-80% of gold production is smuggled across borders with Egypt, Libya, Chad and CAR via local and international networks. Smuggling has become institutionalized with intertwined interests between domestic actors and foreign entities. Since 2023, gold mines in Darfur and S Kordofan have come under control of armed factions…to purchase weapons and fund military operations. These mines have effectively become “sovereign zones”.…50-80% of Sudan’s gold output is smuggled. Sudan’s losses over the decade are estimated at $23-$36.8b. Sudan’s gold sector…is a litmus test for state sovereignty and authenticity of reform efforts. Gold can either be administered with the mindset of a modern state anchored in law, accountability, transparency and institutional strength—or remain a tool for militias, a commodity for patronage and fuel for endless conflict. Today, gold symbolizes the depth of national crisis and the seeds of resolution. Just as it has funded war, it can fund recovery. Global precedents prove this transformation is possible. Burkina Faso did it. Others have too through sovereign visions, not just technical fixes. Sudan must reclaim its role: regulator, protector and steward of public wealth. What’s needed isn’t isolated actions but a holistic national vision that redefines the relationship between state and resources, society and wealth, politics and economy. A transparent exchange, independent refinery, powerful regulatory body, and mining sector free from shadow control are not luxuries. They are the building blocks of a new Sudan.
Gold is no longer just a resource…either we reclaim it for the people, or leave it to warlords and arms dealers to dismantle the state. In a country where a mine’s yield can buy an arsenal, gold…has become a decisive weapon in the struggle for power. The debate over gold is no longer economic, it’s a battle for the soul of the state. Either gold becomes the foundation for rebuilding a new Sudan or remains loot for the merchants of blood and arms. Omer Sidahmed/Al Taghyeer
May 10
HATE SPEECH FUELS FUTURE WARS IN SUDAN. Feminist leaders have called for resisting advocates of war, hatred and racism by all peaceful and effective means, while clarifying the serious impact of the war on people’s destinies. She stressed the need to resist any call that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence, and no impunity for the advocates of hatred and racism for their crimes. Women leaders called for…monitoring and evaluation units to monitor hate speech trends, collect reports and draw the attention of key institutions….They stressed the need to be morally overly sensitive in monitoring and tracking hate speech through social media and sarcastic humorous comments in the public sphere, ban organisations and propaganda activities that promote and incite hate speech and racial discrimination, and consider participation in any of them a crime punishable by public law. Nahla al-Khazraji, Future Org for Consultation & Develop in Darfur, believes hate speech is a manifestation of social exclusion in the state’s public policies and caused great injustice. Nahla gave a historical account of hate speech from colonialism until the April, 2023 war, and that social injustice and the absence of balanced and fair development caused conflicts such as So Sudan, Nuba Mtns and Blue Nile, where the center imposed Islam and Arabism as an alternative to African and Christian religions. …the policy of closed areas was entrenched, along with theslave trade, as well as colonialism which enshrined power, civil service jobs and trade in the hands of certain components. Following independence, these…components protected power through the military. To combat the marginalisation of some regions, armed movements in Darfur were formed on a tribal basis, which caused social conflict, competition for armaments and bloody conflict between ethnic groups. NCP contributed to arming specific tribal groups and forming rapid support that fought African groups in the region, as well as distributing land…to specific groups, which led to social conflict between pastoralists and farmers and tribal components. After the mid-April 2023 war, social media sites witnessed loud hate speech….
Prof Ilham Malik, sociologist, said hate speech and racism are not a modern social problem, but rather the results of a long history in Sudanese society, such as ethnic, cultural, religious and class transcendence and systematic discrimination against vulnerable and marginalised groups….this has deep historical roots in the history of slavery in Sudan, in addition to policies by governments in the center and margins in different periods. The history of slavery is an integral part of Sudan’s social system, where certain peoples have been excluded. After the entry of Anglo-Egyptian colonial rule, a campaign began to prohibit slavery and the British colonial admin issued laws prohibiting slavery, but they were not applied, and the reality remained the same….After independence (1956), elites continued to dominate, dominate, dominate and confiscate the rights of others. The problem in Sudan deepened on a religious basis, creating continuous grudges for 30 years through policies of empowerment of Islamic elements and exclusion of those who do not belong to it. Elham explained that the final goal of hate speech…of advocates continuing the war is to involve society in a war in which all components descend to the bottom, forcing them to defend their first social units, tribe and region, at the expense of loyalty to the homeland, reaching the goal of comprehensive civil war (war of all against all). She stressed this is the malicious goal of hate speech and racism in the agenda of warmongers, as this will absolve them of responsibility for igniting war and achieve one of their options: ruling Sudan, burning it or separating and dividing it geographically and ethnically. Racism and regionalism remained one of the root causes of conflict in Sudan with important necessary causes, and military governments and all those in power employed them politically and religiously to foster divisions. … Hiam Taj Al-Sir, Female Journalists Network/Sudan Media ForumNEW AMNESTY INTL INVESTIGATION UNCOVERED THAT UAE RE-EXPORTED ADVANCED WEAPONRY TO RSF, in a “blatant breach” of the UN arms embargo on Darfur. Through…photos and videos taken after RSF attacks in Darfur and Khartoum, Amnesty identified GB50A guided bombs and 155mm AH-4 howitzers, both produced by China’s Norinco Group. This is the first documented use of GB50A bombs in any conflict worldwide: “These bombs can be dropped from various Chinese drones, used only by the RSF in Sudan, and provided by UAE. The presence of recently manufactured Chinese bombs in N Darfur is a clear violation of the arms embargo by the UAE,” Brian Castner, AI. “Our documentation of AH-4 howitzers in Khartoum further strengthens a growing body of evidence showing extensive UAE support to the RSF, in violation of international law.” Al Mayadeen
May 7
Under the shade of a tree in Omdurman, Munzir waits. A bullet shattered his leg and 2 years of war have kept him from home. He’s one of thousands displaced: wounded, undocumented, forgotten. This camp…has become a shelter of last resort. Run by a small Sudanese charity called Resilience, it offers more than food or medicine. It gives people a chance to reconnect with the lives they lost. Mohamed Al-Fatih, Head of Resilience: “Our statistics say 286 are back.” Al-Fatih leads the mission and through a Facebook post tracked down Munzir’s uncle. A tip has come through that his mother is still in southern Khartoum. Despite the risks, they’re going to find her. On the way, roads are littered with the wreckage of war, families passing the ruins of their own lives. But ahead, something waits. Munzir reaches the gate. Scarred by absence and conflict, he knocks. Then, a child appears, who runs to rally other family members. The door opens and with it, 2 years of pain and fear flood out. Khadija hasn’t seen her son since the war began. And other family members gather, like the aunt who helped raise him, neighbours who feared he was lost. One by one, they line up ready to greet him. This community, once fractured, is beginning to mend. Tears are wiped, but the scars remain. Munzir is now home. Amid the destruction of this war, moments like this offer hope. 1 return means 1 reunion in a country where many are still waiting. AfricaNews/AP
May 5
ICJ DISMISSED CASE ACCUSING UAE OF FUELING GENOCIDE in Darfur by supplying weapons to paramilitary forces, saying it lacked jurisdiction. Sudan argued… last month that UAE was violating the Genocide Convention by supporting paramilitary forces in Darfur, but UAE said the case should be thrown out. The court agreed with UAE’s arguments, rejected Sudan’s request for emergency measures and ordered the case be removed. The court threw out Sudan’s request for emergency measures to prevent genocidal acts against the Masalit tribe, the focus of intense ethnic-based attacks by the RSF and allied Arab militias. Al Arabiya
May 1
3 MILLION UNDER AGE 5 ARE AT HIGH RISK OF EPIDEMIC DISEASES INCLUDING MEASLES, MALARIA, PNEUMONIA, DIARRHEAL DISEASES AND CHOLERA. Malaria is one of the deadliest. “Vaccines are crucial for protecting children from diseases and reducing mortality rates in those under 5. 1.3 million cases of malaria and 850 deaths were confirmed in 2023, World Malaria Report. Children represent 22.3% of these cases and 16% of estimated deaths. …likely severely underreported due to the ongoing conflict, connectivity issues and challenges in reporting. UNICEF supported the delivery of vaccines and other immunization materials. AfricaNews
EBO KRDUM, SUDANESE SELF-TAUGHT SINGER, GUITARIST, ARTIST, ACTOR AND ACTIVIST. He creates contemporary political afro-blues and afrobeat music rooted in traditions around the sub-Saharan area. Ebo sings in many languages and topics such as justice, peace, freedom, equality, diversity, revolution and liberty. When the war started in Darfur in 2003 Ebo became an important voice for the peaceful revolution against the corrupt violent regime. He was active in the opposition that aimed to overthrow the dictatorship, which was also the reason he was forced to flee the country. Ebo is now based in Stockholm, Sweden…as one of the most prominent world music acts. Ebo and his band released…Memory of War. Ebo started his musical journey…in Ngala/Nyala S Darfur. …after war breakout in Darfur, Ebo joined the humanitarian field as a volunteer. He never left music despite all…struggle of dealing with the new situation and escalations of a terrible humanitarian situation in….Most of his lyrics and plays are…message-based, reflecting tragedies, hard truths discussing sensitive issues: society classifications, calling for justice, freedom, peace, civil-rights, harmful traditional habits such as early marriage and Female Genital Mutilation, gender based-violence, equality, prejudice and stereotypes….Because of this Ebo was classified as a radical artist…. Ebo’s musical ideology: Always stand with poor’s side, keep creating awareness on issues that needs to be lifted up, never underestimate the power of words and music in creating change, always support the oppressed, vulnerable and marginalized and always choose nonviolence as a solution for conflicts and problems. Real revolutionaries don’t sleep, don’t quit and never give up until they achieve what they started, if not in their time…may it be a seed for new and upcoming generations. May justice, change, peace & love cover the whole world one day! Al Taghyeer
April 13
N DARFUR BATTLES: HUNDREDS DEAD AND TENS OF THOUSANDS FLEE AS RSF CLAIMS CONTROL OF ZAMZAM AND UMM KADDADAH. SLM Minawi report the killing of 450 people in artillery shelling and ground attack by RSF towards Zamzam and Abu Shouk camps…the 3rd consecutive day, RSF continued artillery shelling in addition to the ground attack, in addition the militia executing 9 workers of Intl Relief Org inside their offices. El Nur said the attack led to displacement of tens of thousands on foot since yesterday morning. El Fasher’s houses were unable to accommodate them, so they entered shelters and schools and slept on the ground under the shade of trees or scorching sun…. The spokesman called…armed forces to move quickly to save the lives of 1 1/2 million by supporting the army, joint force and supporters,…to avoid unfortunate consequences, as in El Geneina….Relief organizations and the UN said RSF killed the entire staff of the last remaining hospital in Zamzam Camp. The attacking forces destroyed hundreds of homes and the main market before attacking its field hospital. Sudanese Doctors Network confirmed the killing of 10 medical personnel in N Darfur over 2 days, 6 by RSF forces at Zamzam, in addition to killing the dir of Um Keddada Hosp.UN Resident Coordinator said the attack…is a deadly escalation against displaced people and aid workers….“yet another deadly and unacceptable escalation in a series of brutal attacks on displaced people and aid workers.” Abu Shouk and Zamzam camps are among the largest displacement camps in Darfur, housing 700,000 displaced people, once again caught in the crossfire with nowhere safe to go. The RSF attack on Umm Keddada…led to the flight of 10,000 residents…. Activists published a preliminary list of the names of 56 people killed including the medical dir and medical personnel…. RSF surrounded the city during the past 5 days, killing dozens of residents, wounding others and forcing thousands to flee to the mountains and neighbouring villages. Emergency Lawyers reported the support forces…killed 52 civilians after entering the city, widespread burning of homes and looting of property. They stormed the local hospital, assaulted patients and executed medical staff….dozens of residents are missing….
April 12
PREGNANT WOMAN AND FEMALE VOLUNTEERS AMONG 112 CIVILIANS KILLED WITHIN HOURS DURING AN ATTACK BY RSF ON ZAMZAM DISPLACEMENT CAMP.Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa expressed “deep devastation and outrage”. RSF forces burned down a women-led community kitchen facility and killed volunteers. Hasanat Musa, who was pregnant, and Nana Bahar Idris was among those shot and killed. …20 children were killed in Zamzam and Abu Shouk camps. SIHA described the assault a “clear and disturbing pattern” by RSF involving “deliberate targeting of civilian-run service points as a strategy of forced eviction and control. …a systematic effort to dismantle spaces that provide care, dignity and survival for displaced communities forcing civilians to flee or perish.” SIHA characterised the events as “systemic genocidal acts” linked to decades of conflict in Darfur, “enabled by the silence of the international and regional community.” The group called for…“urgent presence” of UN and AU forces on the ground to prevent further atrocities. Sudan Tribune
April 11
OVER A THOUSAND SUDANESE REFUGEES REACHED OR ATTEMPTED TO REACH EUROPE IN EARLY 2025, UN refugee agency said, citing growing desperation in part due to reduced aid in the region. 12 million people have been displaced by the 2-year conflict…what UN officials call the world’s most devastating aid crisis. While some recently returned home to Khartoum, millions in neighboring countries like Egypt and Chad face tough choices as services for refugees are being cut, including by the US.UN refugee agency told a press briefing 484 Sudanese arrived in Europe Jan and Feb, up 38% from last year. 937 were rescued or intercepted at sea and returned to Libya, more than double last year: “As humanitarian aid crumbles…many more will have little choice than to join them.” Migrant deaths hit a record last year, with many perishing on the Mediterranean crossing, one of the world’s most dangerous.Al Arabiya
April 10
RSF SUBJECTING WOMEN AND GIRLS TO HORRIFIC SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND GANG RAPE as part of their strategy in the civil war, according to Amnesty Intl. In a 30-page report AI accused RSF of inflicting “widespread sexual violence…to humiliate, assert control and displace communities across the country. RSF’s atrocities, including rape, gang-rape and sexual slavery, amount to war crimes and possible crimes against humanity. RSF’s assaults on Sudanese women and girls are sickening, depraved and aimed at inflicting maximum humiliation.” Deprose Muchena said RSF targeted civilians, particularly women and girls “with unimaginable cruelty during this war”. …at least 36 cases of women and girls as young as 15 subjected by RSF to rape, gang rape and…sexual violence. Violations include raping a mother after tearing away her breastfeeding baby, and 30-day sexual enslavement of a woman in Khartoum, severe beatings, torture with hot liquid or sharp blades and murder. One woman, 34-year-old mother of 5, described how she was abducted from her home by 7 men wearing the RSF uniform and taken to a house where 3 women were held: “I was detained in that house 30 days where they kept raping me almost every day.” Another woman raped in Omdurman: “Women are not leading or participating in this war, but it is women who are suffering the most.” UN fact-finding mission found widespread sexual violence during Sudan’s war. It accused the paramilitaries of being behind the “large majority” of cases. Both the RSF and the army are under US sanctions and accused of war crimes. AI urged the international community “to stop RSF’s atrocities by stemming the flow of weapons, pressuring leadership to end sexual violence. Al Jazeera
February 6
ROBBING THE PEOPLE OF SUDAN. …there are more conflicts now than at any point since at least 1946. Sudan is a rich country filled with gold, and that gold is causing much of the violence. “Gold is destroying Sudan,” Suliman Baldo: “it’s destroying the Sudanese. …billions of dollars in gold are flowing in every direction, helping turn the Sahel into one of the world’s largest gold producers when prices are hitting record highs.” Members of Congress…agree. They worry Sudan’s illicit gold trade enables “lucrative revenue streams” that perpetuate the humanitarian crisis. UAE, US, Russia, Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and other countries have been interfering in the internal political situation, attempting to grab what they can in a bloody free-for-all.
There is consensus among experts including UN, Wall St Journal, Reuters, NYT, Sen Van Hollen, World Beyond War that UAE is one of the primary culprits. Wall St Journal: “UAE’s covert arms shipments are fueling a war that has plunged Sudan into a humanitarian catastrophe”. UAE is supporting both sides and pouring fuel on the fire. They are now the main recipients of “blood gold” smuggled out of the country by Sudan’s army and RSF in return for weapons and cash.
UAE has been backed by the US, specifically the Biden admin. UAE is so important for the US that it is the single largest export market in the Middle East and N Africa, and 1,000 firms operate in the country. US directly supports the UAE militarily. Caitlin Johnstone writes the Biden admin: “has been sending weapons to the UAE while conveniently ignoring that UAE is sending money and weapons to the RSF to use for its atrocities in Sudan.” Sen Van Hollen submitted legislation to pause US weapons sales…. Rep Sara Jacobs submitted similar legislation. Biden recognized “UAE as a Major Defense Partner…joined by only India, to further enhance defense cooperation and security in the Middle East, E Africa and Indian Ocean.” Aug 2022 US approved “$2.2b for high-altitude defense for UAE.” Oct, 2024 “State Dept approved a potential $1.2b Foreign Military Sale to UAE for advanced Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems & Army Tactical Missile Systems.”
It is widely known the “Emirates is a staunch American ally against Iran, signatory of the Abraham Accords to establish diplomatic relations with Israel, potential player in postwar Gaza, and facilitated prisoner swaps between Ukraine and Russia.” US repeatedly called foreign governments to stay out of the conflict, but as Gen Clark told us 2 decades ago, Sudan was one of the governments the US was planning to overthrow, that about a month after 9/11 a US general told him…there was a plan to “take out 7 countries in 5 years, starting with Iraq, then Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and finishing off Iran.” According to Jeffrey Sachs, Israel believes Sudan is their enemy, and the US follows Israel when formulating foreign policy in the Middle East. US support for the RSF should not be surprising as it regularly supported violent Islamist groups. Al-Jolani, new leader of Syria, is a “former Al Qaeda leader and ISIS deputy” as well as founder of Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. Amb Thomas-Greenfield: “It is shocking Russia vetoed an effort to save lives,…standing in the way of council action to address the catastrophic situation in Sudan and playing…both sides to advance its own political objectives at the expense of Sudanese lives.” Military analysts explained “Russia is acting to fill a power vacuum left by the US and counter Ukraine’s military presence in Sudan—there are 100-300 Ukrainian troops on the ground, operating mostly at night alongside the SAF.” According to the defence min of Ukraine, Ukrainian “civilians” who used to work for Ukraine’s air force are serving as instructors of the Sudanese air force.
According to Abayomi Azikiwe, US has been heavily involved for decades trying to “prevent any Left-wing government from coming to power” in Sudan. 1971 US began supporting Nimeiry through military aid, after “pro-communist” Hashem al-Atta attempted to overthrow Nimeiry. 1998…US bombed a factory making pharmaceuticals. The factory provided half the country’s pharmaceuticals. The bombing…by Clinton in retaliation for the bombing of US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania was an act of terrorism. German amb estimated the number of indirect deaths may be in the tens of thousands. The US has withdrawn American staff from the UN aid organization resulting in a suspension of aid to Sudan, where 2.4m people were at risk of starvation. Saudi Arabia, long an ally of the US, supports RSF with the UAE. This is not surprising as it is widely recognized that like the US Saudi Arabia promotes Islamist terrorism.
Sudan is rich in natural resources, and powerful states can easily steal those resources, so they are grabbing what they can during this crisis. “Africa’s current conflicts haven’t prompted the outpouring of sympathy in the West that accompanied Russia’s invasion of Ukraine or Israel’s war in Gaza. People seeking help for African Muslims must compete with humanitarian missions that white, middle-class people already care about or work on, such as helping white Christians in Ukraine and people of various religions who are victims of the Gaza Genocide in the “Holy Land” a place of great historical significance for many Westerners. Dissident Voice/The New Humanitarian