The United Nations is sounding a dire alarm for Sudan's Kordofan region, cautioning that it stands on the brink of widespread atrocities as intense clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) escalate. This grim forecast comes amidst fears of a humanitarian disaster unfolding across the vital central region.
History Repeating Itself: A Haunting Echo of El-Fasher
Volker Turk, the UN human rights chief, expressed profound concern on Thursday, highlighting a disturbing parallel with the tragic events in el-Fasher, North Darfur. He noted that history appears to be "repeating itself" in Kordofan, following the fall of el-Fasher last month. Despite urgent international warnings, the violence there led to mass killings, a scenario Turk is desperate to prevent in Kordofan.
Escalating Violence and Civilian Casualties
Since late October, when the RSF seized Bara in North Kordofan, the UN has meticulously documented at least 269 civilian fatalities. These deaths are attributed to relentless aerial bombardments, heavy artillery fire, and summary executions. However, widespread communication blackouts suggest the true death toll could be significantly higher. Reports have also emerged of retaliatory attacks, arbitrary detentions, sexual violence, and the forced recruitment of children into the conflict.
Earlier this week, the RSF declared control over Babnusa in West Kordofan, with social media footage reportedly showing their fighters within the city's military base. The Sudanese army, however, refuted these claims. The Sudan Doctors Network voiced its deep concern over developments in Babnusa, appealing to the international community to pressure the RSF into allowing safe civilian evacuations. Health infrastructure has collapsed, with al-Nuhud Hospital in West Kordofan largely incapacitated. The World Health Organization reports nearly 1,700 health workers and patients have perished across Sudan since the conflict's onset.
A Humanitarian Crisis Deepens: Famine and Displacement
The humanitarian situation is rapidly deteriorating, with key cities such as Kadugli and Dilling now under siege. Famine has been officially confirmed in Kadugli, and Dilling faces an imminent food crisis. Alarmingly, all warring factions are deliberately obstructing critical humanitarian access, exacerbating the suffering.
In recent weeks, over 45,000 individuals have been displaced from their homes in Kordofan as the conflict engulfs the vast central region. Turk reiterated, "We cannot remain silent in front of yet another man-made catastrophe," demanding immediate, unimpeded access for life-saving aid to reach those facing starvation.
Kordofan's Strategic Importance
The conflict, which erupted in April 2023 between the SAF and the powerful paramilitary RSF, has already claimed tens of thousands of lives and internally displaced nearly 12 million people nationwide. With el-Fasher, the last major city in Darfur under army control, now fallen, international attention has decisively shifted to Kordofan.
Kordofan's strategic significance cannot be overstated. It acts as a crucial corridor, connecting RSF-controlled Darfur in the west with government-held territories to the east and north. Control of key Kordofan cities, notably El Obeid, would provide the RSF with a direct route to the capital, Khartoum, which government forces recently recaptured.
International Inaction and Urgent Appeals
The UN's previous warnings about potential atrocities in el-Fasher before its fall in November went largely unheeded. The aftermath saw horrific mass killings, leading UN chief Antonio Guterres to label the scene a "crime scene." Subsequently, Amnesty International called for war crimes investigations, and the European Union imposed sanctions on Abdelrahim Dagalo, the RSF's deputy leader.
Turk implored nations with leverage over the warring parties to halt arms shipments and advocate for an immediate ceasefire. "Have we not learned our lessons from the past?" he questioned, emphasizing the imperative to prevent further horrific human rights violations against the Sudanese people.