By Udesinanna Stephen
As the Sudan conflict enters its second week, countries are evacuating their diplomats and citizens, thousands are stranded, and hundreds of casualties have been reported; 413 people have died, the World Health Organization (WHO) said.
For over a week, the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been fighting in the capital Khartoum and other areas throughout the country.
Meanwhile, Roundoffnews gathered that there is a growing concern by the international communities about the worsening humanitarian situations and refugee hazard that is escalating in Sudan.
The United Nations has called for a hold of fire; the UN Secretary-General António Guterres appealed to fighting parties in the country to ceasefire for at least three days so that civilians trapped in conflict zones can seek medical treatment, food, and other essential supplies.
Following the above development, the African Union (AU) had a virtual meeting on the crisis; AU convened the UN, the European Union, the East African bloc IGAD, and other countries concerned with bringing an end to the fighting in Sudan.
Moving on, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has estimated 10,000 to 20,000 people, mostly women, and children, have fled the conflict in Sudan’s Darfur region to seek refuge in neighboring Chad.
In fact, the UN Population Fund warned the fighting is endangering tens of thousands of pregnant women as the fighting makes it risky for them to seek urgent medical care.
Similarly, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported that children are paying a heavy price; at least nine were reportedly killed in the clash, and over 50 were injured.
The World Food Program warns that the fighting in Sudan could cause a hunger crisis for millions.
What Caused The Fight?
There are two men in the clash, the Sudan’s Arm Force (SAF) leader, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the commander of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also referred to as “Hemetti,” who was deputy to the above SAF leader when they both overthrown a civilian regime in 2019.
Recall the two leaders had previously worked together to overthrow the al-Bashir regime in 2019 by executing a military coup in October 2021 that removed the civilian prime minister and cabinet and suspended the constitution, United State Institute of Peace reports.
But after the SAF, RSF, and civilian political leaders agreed to a new democratic setting and transition in December, the problem became:
- How would the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, RSF be joined into the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF),
- Who would become the leader of the newly established military, that is, who would be subordinate to who under the new hierarchy?
RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo is not ready to be a second man this time.
Attempted efforts such as negotiations to resolve the issues failed, and tensions rapidly rose between the two groups which led to the current fighting.
