Sudan Refugees Flee Ethnic Killing in Thousands

According to the UN refugee agency, Sudan is undergoing an “unimaginable” humanitarian crisis. Reports include the Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces using sexual crimes as war tactics.

While much news coverage exists about the Israel-Hamas war, Sudan’s conflict has largely gone under the radar.

In April, civil war broke out in Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, and two opposing sides have been fighting since.

Aerial photo of Khartoum in Sudan's ancient market. The Houses are dusty-brown, and a massive smoke cloud blooms from the market. — A huge fire in Sudan’s capital, Khartoum’s ancient market, Omdurman. The fire is likely due to the war between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces. (Source: Abd_Almohimen_Sayed/Shutterstock)

Fighting began with Sudan’s de facto President, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, leading the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) against rival Muhammad Hamdan Dagalo, Rapid Support Forces (RSF) leader.

The RSF is a paramilitary group that witnesses report have recently been killing non-Arabs in their thousands. This targeting had reportedly happened after the organisation captured the Sudanese Armed Forces’ headquarters in El Geneina, West Darfur’s capital.

The RSF has been fighting to control the country since April and denies involvement in what it calls the “tribal conflict.”

A map showing the which forces occupied which areas in Sudan on 5th November. The Sudanese armed forces largely occupy Sudan. However, the RSF held the south-west corner. — Map of territories in Sudan War from 5th November, 2023. (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

However, Hatim Ali, a human rights observer, said the RSF and allies arrived on motorbikes, camels, and horseback, then attacked El Geneina’s neighboring Erdamta.

Ali fled to Chad, where he reported to the BBC that the paramilitary group “killed so many men and raped a lot of women.” He added he believed the casualties may be in the hundreds.

Since taking El Geneira, the RSF has reportedly been killing Masalit tribe members, an ethnic group generally from western Sudan and eastern Chad.

Generally, the Masalit were very poor and had mud hut homes. They traditionally farmed for a living. They have a language with the same name, and most can speak Arabic.

Geneina is the non-Arabic tribe’s homeland. Reportedly, some Masalit who worked as policemen and soldiers in the former Sudanese government quit due to knowing the government works with Arab militias.

Food Aid Needed

Alaa Babikr, an El Geneina resident, told the BBC that civilians can’t escape the war.

Arab militias have been reportedly demanding those hoping to flee into Chad give them lots of money to cross the border. For the refugees who made it into Chad, an aid worker said that feeding them was difficult as they come with “nothing.”

Pierre Honnorat, Chad’s World Food Program Chief, said, “We need support, and we need it now. We do need to secure a meal a day to them all. They have nothing.”

Do you want to help those fleeing Sudan’s war? If so, and you can, please donate to UNICEF’s appeal here.