KHARTOUM: A wave of attacks by Sudanese paramilitaries on Sunday has forced hundreds of civilians to flee from Nyala, the second largest city and capital of South Darfur state, witnesses reported. As clashes between the regular army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continue to escalate in Darfur, the region’s volatile situation is raising concerns over civilian safety and the ongoing power struggle between rival generals.
Residents recounted scenes of chaos and destruction as rockets rained down on houses in Nyala, exacerbating the already dire humanitarian crisis that has gripped Sudan’s western region. The conflict initially erupted in Khartoum on April 15, pitting forces loyal to army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan against his former deputy, RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo. Since then, at least 3,900 people have lost their lives across the country, according to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project, and more than four million individuals have been displaced from their homes, as reported by the United Nations refugee agency.
Intense Fighting Grip West Darfur; Thousands Displaced
Witnesses on the ground have reported a significant escalation in violence, with RSF paramilitaries launching an assault on Nyala using dozens of military vehicles. Fleeing residents spoke of intense artillery fire, prompting hundreds to seek safety in neighboring areas. The RSF, which traces its origins to the infamous Janjaweed militia responsible for Sudan’s brutal scorched-earth campaign in 2003, remains a formidable force in Darfur.
The conflict’s epicenter has shifted to El Geneina, the capital of West Darfur state, where the United Nations suspects crimes against humanity may have occurred. Allegations of massacres and ethnically motivated killings continue to emerge, with paramilitary forces being implicated. Researchers from Yale University have documented the destruction of at least 27 villages in Darfur since April, drawing chilling comparisons to the ferocity and brutality witnessed during the 2003-2004 genocide.
“The RSF is systematically targeting civilian communities with alarming precision, reminiscent of past atrocities,” said Nathaniel Raymond of the Humanitarian Research Lab at the Yale School of Public Health. As clashes persist, reports of fighting also emerged from Omdurman, Khartoum’s battle-scarred sister city, where artillery fire further underscores the region’s instability and the urgent need for a lasting solution.
