A Flash of Peace in Khartoum, ‘Dystopian Nightmare’ in El Geneina

Current Figures

• At least 865 killed and 3,634 wounded

• IOM: 1,428,551 IDPs

• UNHCR: Over 459,477 refugees & returnees have fled

• Egypt: 215,565 (Sudanese refugees: 210,000, Other refugees: 5,565)

• Chad: 115,980 (Sudanese refugees: 115,980)

• South Sudan: 103,748 (Sudanese refugees: 3,758, Other refugees: 2,831, Refugee returnees: 97,159)

• CAR: 15,069 (Sudanese refugees: 10,368, Refugee returnees: 4,701)

• Ethiopia: 9,115 (Sudanese refugees: 2,014, Other refugees: 7,015, Refugee returnees: 86)

A Few Hours of Peace

Mediators agreed to a 24 hour ceasefire that started on Saturday. “The ministry’s statement said the two sides agreed – as they had done in previous ceasefires that were broken – to refrain from seeking military advantage during the 24-hour period, as well as from prohibited movements, attacks, use of aircraft or drones, aerial bombardment, artillery strikes, reinforcement of positions and resupply of forces.” For the first time since April 15th, Khartoum was quiet during the beginning of the ceasefire. Approximately 300 children and staff from the Mygoma orphanage in Khartoum were evacuated on Wednesday, while civilians scrambled to gather supplies.

Unfortunately, peace did not last long and fighting quickly erupted once the ceasefire ended. The fighting is some of the heaviest it has been in a few weeks, including in densely populated neighbourhoods. The situation continues to grow increasingly desperate. 

El Geneina: Worst Place on Earth

“Residents and activists have reported a further deterioration in recent days in El Geneina, near the border with Chad, and new waves of attacks by Arab nomadic tribes with ties to the RSF.” Civilians, doctors, activists, and lawyers have been killed. The RSF stated that they did not instigate any violence in the area, blaming the SAF. El Geneina has had no telephone or communication access for weeks. Toby Harward, the coordinator in Darfur for the UNHCR called the situation in Darfur “catastrophic” and a “dystopian nightmare where there is no law and order.” Due to the insecurity at the Sudan-Chad border, the UNHCR is trying to relocate refugees to existing camps further within Chad. 

Doctors Without Borders stated that at least 500 have been killed in West Darfur since fighting began and called El Geneina “one of the worst places on Earth.” Parts of Darfur have experienced some of the worst fighting outside of Khartoum, with many fearing a reignition of the genocide that began two decades ago. A Sudanese who sent his family to Chad and is waiting in El Geneina to wait for news of his teenage son in Khartoum stated, "Heavy weapons and machine guns are being fired everywhere. When you go out in the morning, you see new bullet holes in the walls."

The fighting in Khartoum is creating a power vacuum in the Darfur region, as the conflict begins to splinter. Many of the 3.7 million IDPs in Darfur are being re-displaced and revictimized. With telecommunications down, reporting of the situation on the ground has become incredibly difficult and numbers of the deceased are not up to date. Sudan researcher at Human Rights Watch Mohamed Osman stated, "Many people from non-Arab communities did say how the brutality of these attacks, the killings, massive destruction of property and food reserves, looting, [have] been reminding them of the early dark days of the conflict in Darfur." According to Doctors Without Borders, those attempting to flee El Geneina to Chad face an incredibly dangerous journey, as armed groups patrol the routes. Nearly all of those fleeing into Chad come from Darfur. One refugee in Chad stated that ‘the Arabs’ "were just killing people. Anyone, a woman searching for herbs, they'd kill them. Children fetching water, they'd kill them. So we just couldn't live there." 

Source: BBC

Looking Forward

Clashes between displaced persons at a UN camp in South Sudan have left more than 20 dead and 50 wounded. Power vacuums, desperation, and ethnic tensions are likely to increase and explode into various conflicts throughout the region. Now UN displacement camps are at risk, making a dire situation for refugees even more perilous as women and children are fleeing sites in fear. Compounding the situation, Sudanese immigration officials are behaving abhorrently as they harass and attempt to block their own citizens who are fleeing to Ethiopia. Sudanese border officials are interrogating refugees, not allowing them to bring clothes, and are even accusing them of not being Sudanese. Refugees have reported officials questioning them “why are you leaving us behind?”, or “are you planning to ask for asylum and make us ashamed?”

This leaves Sudanese refugees in a position where their own people blockade them from seeking safety, question their identity, and accuse them of bringing shame to their country. Not only do  they have the crossfire to fear, they are now facing potential assaults from other tribes, other refugees, and even fellow Sudanese. The security vacuum from the instability will continue to grow, permitting the janjaweed and other groups to do what they please. 

Committing to peace for the first time in nearly two months was a moment of significant progress, yet was too brief. Conditions for those fleeing Sudan across the region are increasingly disastrous. As the conflict continues, refugees will have fewer safe havens they can seek. Competition over resources, xenophobia, and ethnic clashes will continue, potentially escalating into outright conflicts. While humanitarian aid organisations are exponentially strained, the circumstances they face continue to mount. As agencies like the UNHCR scramble to assist and relocate refugees as quickly as possible, the rainy season approaches. In addition to the man-made destruction and inhumane treatment of those most vulnerable, those seeking security  are at further risk of natural catastrophes, producing a death toll unforeseen.