At least 36,000 Sudanese have evacuated since takeover of El Fasher to Rapid Support Forces, reports UN agency

Over 36,000 individuals have evacuated from Sudan's Kordofan region eastern part of Darfur beginning Saturday, according to the UN's immigration body.

The important central zone between the country's Darfur provinces and the Khartoum-Riverine region has in recent weeks become the newest conflict zone in the two-year civil war between the Sudanese armed forces and the militia group.

Substantial Evacuation Figures

An calculated 36,825 people evacuated from five districts in North Kordofan state between 26 October and 31 October, according to the International Organization for Migration.

The civilians, primarily walking, moved toward Tawila, a town western side of El Fasher that is currently accommodating over 652,000 refugees.

Escalated Troop Concentration

Residents of North Kordofan on Monday noted a significant increase in both RSF and army concentration across towns and villages throughout the state.

Both armed factions are contesting control of El Obeid, the North Kordofan state capital and a key logistics and command hub that connects Darfur to Khartoum.

"Today, all our forces have gathered at the Bara front here," said an RSF member in a recently shared video statement.

Local Residents Report Security Concerns

A local inhabitant of Um Smeima, located west of El Obeid, reported that the amount of RSF vehicles had grown significantly since the group's capture of El Fasher.

"We discontinued traveling to our farms, concerned about confrontations," the resident commented.

Another resident, who requested anonymity for protection purposes, also indicated that "there has been a big increase in army vehicles and weapons west and south of El Obeid" over the past two weeks.

Global Warnings and Calls

A senior UN official expressed concerns last week about "extensive crimes" and "ethnic-based retaliations" by RSF in Bara.

The official alerted to patterns echoing those in Darfur, where RSF militants have been accused of mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against non-Arab ethnic groups.

The spiritual head on Sunday urged an prompt truce and the establishment of humanitarian corridors in Sudan, saying that attacks on civilians and hindrances to humanitarian aid "are producing unacceptable suffering."

Sudan's diplomatic representative to Egypt on Sunday charged RSF of carrying out war crimes in El Fasher and declared that the Sudanese government would not engage with the militia organization.

The diplomat further urged the world nations to categorize the group as a terrorist group.

Patricia Carter DDS
Patricia Carter DDS

Elara is a certified financial planner with over a decade of experience in wealth management and personal finance coaching.