UN expresses grave concern over RSF assault on el-Fasher in Sudan

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The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has voiced deep alarm regarding a full-scale assault on the city of el-Fasher in North Darfur, Sudan. Reports indicate that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have intensified their attacks in the area, prompting Guterres to call on RSF commander Lt. General Mohamed Hamdan 'Hemedti' Dagalo to immediately cease hostilities.

The UN spokesperson stated that continued violence could exacerbate intercommunal tensions throughout Darfur, a region already marked by severe conflict since April 2023. This conflict arose from long-standing disputes between military and paramilitary factions, resulting in over 14,000 deaths and 33,000 injuries, along with a significant displacement crisis.

Guterres highlighted the plight of civilians trapped in el-Fasher, emphasizing the risks posed by escalating violence. Martha Pobee, the UN’s assistant secretary-general for Africa, noted that the conflict threatens hundreds of thousands, including internally displaced persons residing in camps nearby.

The UN Security Council (UNSC) had previously adopted a resolution in June calling for a halt to fighting in el-Fasher. Additionally, the International Criminal Court has suggested that both warring sides may be committing war crimes and crimes against humanity. Calls for an independent monitoring force in Sudan have also been made amid increasing reports of human rights violations.