At least 10 dead in brutal North Darfur attacks, Minnawi accuses RSF

An onslaught unfolded as armed men targeted 11 villages and a displacement camp west of El Fasher in North Darfur, resulting in at least 10 deaths and 28 injuries, on Saturday. This has been met with widespread condemnation, with numerous reports attributing the attack to the RSF.

In a damning post on X (formerly Twitter), leader of a Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM-MM) breakaway faction and governor of Darfur, Minni Minnawi implicated the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in a sustained campaign targeting villages in El Fasher. According to Minnawi, the aim was to displace residents, effectively encircling El Fasher with the intent of toppling it. 

He asserted that the Darfur Joint Protection Force, comprised of rebel groups that signed the Juba Peace Agreement in October 2020, swiftly intervened, bringing the battle to a resolution. He highlighted the joint force’s vigilance in monitoring attempts to assail El Fasher and Mellit.

Minnawi’s statement lambasted members of the RSF’s political wing, stating that they “rush to Paris to attend a humanitarian conference for Sudan, yet they engage in killing under the guise of democracy and plead for assistance under the guise of humanity”.

The spokesperson for the Sovereignty Council announced ‘large-scale combing operations’ to be conducted by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), supported by the Darfur joint force, with the objective of “eliminating the RSF”. 

RSF supporters on X (formerly Twitter) shared photos and videos purportedly showcasing their victory over SLM-MM forces led by Minnawi.

The aftermath of the attack revealed a harrowing reality of death, injury, and displacement. Displaced witness to the attack, Ismail Khareef, reported that the onslaught was “comprising militants on various modes of transport”. He accused the RSF of backing the assailants. 

Radio Dabanga was unable to seek immediate comment from the North Darfur Rapid Support Force Command in response to these allegations.

US Special Envoy 

In a post on his X (formerly Twitter) account on Saturday, US Special Envoy for Sudan Tom Perriello, expressed grave concern over the ongoing violence in El Fasher, emphasising the need to prioritise civilian protection amidst the displacement crisis. 

Perriello called on all parties, including the RSF, to adhere to international norms and cease hostilities. He stated, “Continued fighting in El Fasher risks significant civilian harm and a worsening displacement crisis when people are already in desperate need of food, water, and medicine. [..]

“I call on the RSF to end the siege and call on them, the SAF and its aligned fighters to respect IHL [international humanitarian law] and protect civilians.” 

He warned that an “An offensive by any of the armed groups there will only protract and escalate this unnecessary conflict.”