Renewed RSF Assault on Sennar Claims 31 Lives in Sudan's Ongoing Conflict

In a recent escalation of Sudan's ongoing civil conflict, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have launched a renewed assault on Sennar city in the country's southeast. This attack, occurring approximately one year ago, has resulted in at least 31 fatalities and 100 injuries, according to reports from Emergency Lawyers, a group monitoring civilian casualties and humanitarian violations.

The RSF, a paramilitary organization with roots in the Janjaweed militias of Darfur, targeted various parts of Sennar, including its main market, with artillery fire. This assault marks a continuation of the 18-month-long civil war that has devastated Sudan, the third-largest country in Africa by area.

The conflict has had far-reaching consequences for Sudan, a nation with a complex history of civil strife since gaining independence in 1956. The current war has created the world's largest hunger and internal displacement crises, decimating much of the country's infrastructure and economy. This situation is particularly dire given Sudan's loss of significant oil revenue following South Sudan's independence in 2011, which has contributed to severe economic challenges, including periods of hyperinflation.

While the RSF controls a substantial portion of Sudan, including most of Sennar, their progress in the southeast has been impeded by heavy rainfall. This meteorological factor has made troop movements challenging in a region where the Blue and White Nile rivers converge.

The conflict has not been confined to Sennar. Reports indicate that the Sudanese army conducted airstrikes in al-Souki, a town near Sennar, resulting in at least four civilian deaths. Concurrently, RSF artillery strikes in el-Obeid caused one fatality and 17 injuries, highlighting the widespread nature of the hostilities.

"Both sides in Sudan's 18-month-old civil war have committed abuses that may amount to war crimes."

This statement from a UN-mandated mission underscores the gravity of the situation. The mission has called for the deployment of peacekeepers and the implementation of a country-wide arms embargo. However, Sudan's army-aligned foreign ministry has rejected these recommendations, dismissing the idea of international peacekeepers as "the wish of Sudan's enemies."

The ongoing conflict presents a stark contrast to Sudan's rich cultural and historical heritage. The country, once home to the Kushite civilization and pharaohs of ancient Egypt, boasts over 500 ethnic groups speaking more than 100 languages. It is also home to significant archaeological sites, including the pyramids of Meroe, and unique cultural regions like the Nuba Mountains.

As the international community grapples with how to address the crisis, the people of Sudan continue to bear the brunt of a conflict that has already lasted longer than a year and a half. The situation in Sennar and beyond serves as a grim reminder of the urgent need for a peaceful resolution to this devastating civil war.