At least 36,000 Sudanese have evacuated since fall of El Fasher to paramilitary group, states UN agency

Over 36,000 individuals have fled Sudan's Kordofan region east of Darfur since Saturday, according to the UN's migration organization.

The strategic central area connecting the country's Darfur provinces and the Khartoum-Riverine region has during recent weeks become the latest battleground in the extended civil war between the Sudanese armed forces and the paramilitary forces.

Significant Evacuation Figures

An estimated 36,825 people fled five localities in North Kordofan province between 26 October and 31 October, according to the International Organization for Migration.

The individuals, mainly traveling by foot, headed to Tawila, a town to the west of El Fasher that is currently accommodating over 652,000 displaced people.

Heightened Forces Deployment

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

Both forces are competing for control of El Obeid, the North Kordofan provincial capital and a key logistics and command base that joins Darfur to Khartoum.

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

Regional Inhabitants Detail Safety Fears

A local inhabitant of Um Smeima, located west of El Obeid, reported that the number of RSF vehicles had risen considerably since the group's seizure of El Fasher.

"We stopped going to our farms, concerned about clashes," the individual explained.

Another resident, who requested anonymity for security reasons, also confirmed that "there has been a significant rise in army vehicles and weapons west and south of El Obeid" over the previous fortnight.

Global Warnings and Requests

A senior UN official raised the alarm last week about "large-scale atrocities" and "race-driven revenge attacks" by RSF in Bara.

The official warned of patterns similar to those in Darfur, where RSF fighters have been charged with mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against certain racial groups.

The religious leader on Sunday appealed for an immediate ceasefire and the establishment of aid passageways in Sudan, declaring that attacks on civilians and obstacles to humanitarian aid "are creating unacceptable suffering."

Sudan's diplomatic representative to Egypt on Sunday accused RSF of carrying out war crimes in El Fasher and stated that the Sudanese government would not negotiate with the paramilitary group.

The representative further urged the world nations to classify the group as a terrorist group.

Nicole Gilbert
Nicole Gilbert

Elara is a seasoned academic mentor with a passion for helping students excel in their educational journeys and professional endeavors.