Acled:Civilians still trapped in the crossfire

September 10, 2023 (PEN) – After four months of conflict, ACLED has recorded nearly 7,500 deaths in Sudan since fighting erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on April 15, the NGO Eclyd said.

She stated that in the last month, from August 5 to September 1, 2023, more than 470 incidents of political violence were reported, with more than 2,280 deaths. Khartoum state has been the scene of heavy fighting as the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) fought for control of the armoured corps base and Shambat Bridge, it said. Meanwhile, ethnic violence has escalated in South Darfur, which has seen increasing levels of violence since July.

"Khartoum State continues to record the highest number of incidents of political violence and deaths, with more than 300 and 1,400 cases respectively recorded during the reporting period. It is followed by South Darfur State, with nearly 40 incidents of political violence and more than 380 deaths. Fighting between different ethnic militias in multiple locations in South Darfur, over looting and disagreements over allegiance to the RSF, has resulted in hundreds of deaths."

The most common type of event was battles, with approximately 360 events recorded, followed by violence against civilians and explosions/remote violence, with approximately 60 events recorded each. The Sudanese Armed Forces carried out nearly 80% of recorded bombings across Sudan, mainly targeting RSF positions in the tri-urban area of Khartoum.

The intensification of hostilities around vital strategic locations in Khartoum and South and Central Darfur has caused severe and lasting suffering to the local civilian population. The protracted conflict has exposed the weaknesses of both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF, raising questions about their ability to achieve a decisive victory.

"At the same time, civilians remain trapped in the crossfire, trapped inside the explosive battlefields of urban warfare and inter-ethnic violence. As the war continues, various actors are forced to forge alliances with warring parties or take measures to protect their presence in Sudan, illustrating the ongoing complexity and instability of the situation."