Darfur Update
Never Again Coalition 
Thursday, November 2, 2023

As US/Saudi/IGAD-facilitated talks resume in Jeddah between SAF and RSF, a dramatic escalation of violence is taking place in Darfur. On Tuesday, RSF captured the command of SAF’s 21st Division in Zalingei, Central Darfur. This follows the RSF capture of SAF’s 16th Division base in Nyala last week which saw RSF gain control of Darfur’s largest city and the second largest in Sudan. Questions abound about the future of Hamadiya and Hasahisa IDP camps in Central Darfur which the RSF have been laying siege to for weeks. According to reports from human rights monitors, RSF attacked Hasahisa area and IDP camp on Wednesday morning causing the forcible displacement of approximately 13,000 and an unconfirmed number of casualties. The siege appears to be partially lifted with Hasahisa residents fleeing to Hamidiya.

Following the RSF capture of the capitals of South and Central Darfur states in the last week, SAF only retained a regional presence in El Geneina, West Darfur; El Fasher, North Darfur; and El Daein, East Darfur. On Sunday, RSF began to encircle El Geneina, with reports of the SAF 15th Division being surrounded. Eyewitnesses report that RSF used drones “to launch intensive aerial bombardments on the army command”. On Wednesday, residents of the Ardamta area fled towards the city centre and Adre, Chad. A large contingent of SAF troops have reportedly fled the base for Geneina city centre, however SAF command refuses to surrender until guarantees of safe exit are secured. Communication has been severed and there are an unknown number of civilian casualties and forcibly displaced persons.  

Darfur’s balance of power continues to shift towards the RSF. El Fasher is the last significant SAF presence in Darfur. There had been ongoing clashes in the North Darfur capital between RSF and SAF and RSF reportedly controls the east of the city as of Monday. The Darfur Joint Force deployed to secure key civilian infrastructure such as markets and banks. On Wednesday, SAF caused dozens of civilian casualties when they launched Antonov airstrikes. RSF troops continue to arrive from South Darfur. There is mass displacement of civilians in El Fasher; the Governor of North Darfur called on the RSF and SAF to allow the safe evacuation of civilians. 

Civilians in Darfur face the spectre of multiple displacements. Since the outbreak of war, there have been 1.77 million new IDPs in Darfur in addition to more than 3 million Darfurians who were internally displaced before April 15. North Darfur has received thousands of forcibly displaced persons from Darfur’s other states. These civilians are now being further displaced with no clear refuge available. Most Darfurians in need of humanitarian assistance have not received it. The planned transport of 786 metric tonnes of aid to Darfur and Kordofan was cancelled due to insecurity. This underscores the urgent need for humanitarian corridors to be established to allow for safe evacuations, medical assistance, and deliveries of humanitarian aid.  

The current dynamics in Darfur demonstrate RSF’s complete disregard for the efforts of the Jeddah talks. Both SAF and RSF continue to commit grave human rights violations against civilians against the backdrop of ceasefire negotiations, raising serious questions of their commitment to a peace process. RSF appears to be utilizing the opportunity to advance their military aims. It’s imperative for the facilitating partners to publicly condemn the human rights violations as they take place and institute punitive measures to disincentivize the perpetrators and to prevent further atrocities.