Airstrikes Kill Congolese Nationals at University as Talks May Renew
Current Figures
At least 865 killed and 3,634 wounded
IOM: 1,210,214 IDPs
UNHCR: Over 398,703 refugees & returnees have fled
Egypt: 169,565 (Sudanese refugees: 164,000, Other refugees: 5,565)
Chad: 113,332 (Sudanese refugees: 113,332)
South Sudan: 94,471 (Sudanese refugees: 3,126, Other refugees: 2,747, Refugee returnees: 88,598)
CAR: 13,824 (Sudanese refugees: 10,368, Refugee returnees: 3,456)
Ethiopia: 7,511 (Sudanese refugees: 1,301, Other refugees: 6,155, Refugee returnees: 55)
US Imposes Sanctions
On June 1st, a day after Burhan pulled out of peace talks, the US Department of the Treasury designated four companies associated with both sides of the conflict. Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen stated, “Through sanctions, we are cutting off key financial flows to both the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces, depriving them of resources needed to pay soldiers, rearm, resupply, and wage war in Sudan. The United States stands on the side of civilians against those who perpetuate violence towards the people of Sudan.”
The Treasury imposed sanctions on holding company Al Junaid Multi Activities Co Ltd and procurement company Tradive General Trading L.L.C. owned by the RSF. Sanctions were also imposed on the SAF’s arms company Sudan Master Technology (SMT) and Defense Industries System, Sudan’s largest defence enterprise that generates $2 billion in revenues.
According to Dr. Khidir Dalouk, advocacy director with the Sudanese American Physicians Association, those who support the sanctions have expressed that they should have come sooner after the June 3rd massacre or the October 2021 coup. Others remain sceptical as similar sanctions have been implemented on Bashir for the past 30 years, yet, his regime has been able to evade the sanctions. Dalouk believes that there should be a very high level of envoy reporting to US President Biden and that an international coalition needs to invoke pressure not only on the generals but the region to stop the conflict. The UN Security Council extended the Sudan mission for only 6 months, which will end on December 3rd.
Attacks on Civilians Continue
The SAF has called in reinforcements and has “relentlessly” shelled RSF bases around Khartoum. Many have reported that the conflict will intensify and are already seeing this come to fruition. At least 180 people have been buried by volunteers as ‘unidentified’. One army bombardment left 18 civilians dead at a Khartoum market. Reports are being received of authorities now blocking access of evacuation buses into Khartoum, no longer allowing escape transportation to the many trapped in the capital.
Ten civilians from the DRC were killed by aerial bombs dropped by the SAF on a university campus on Sunday. At this time, it is unclear if any killed were students at Khartoum's International University of Africa as many foreigners have been seeking refuge at or near the university during the conflict. Congolese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Christophe Lutundula, stated in a press announcement that the information he received "indicates that these fatal shots, carried out by the regular army on an area occupied by civilian and unarmed populations, including nationals of foreign countries, seriously injured other compatriots". Lutundula has reached out to the SAF for an explanation of the attack and requested that the bodies be repatriated to the DRC.
Source: Belga via the Brussels Times
In a video tweeted by the RSF, smoke is seen rising in the background of where the university is located and a woman cries as she states her husband was killed in the bombing. "We’re Congolese… we’ve been here for 3 years… look at the people [who] are blown up to pieces bit by bit Ya Burhan.” A distraught man then states, "We’re Congolese refugees living in Madina Riyadiya [a neighbourhood in Khartoum]. Where is the UN, where are the international NGOs, where are you? Should we die in this country once and for all and end it here?"
Mohammed Yusef, VOA Africa correspondent, stated during a Nigerian news interview that such an attack shows how desperate the two warring parties have gotten since neither side has been able to advance significantly. “It clearly shows one thing: an escalation and also a desperation.”
Looking Forward
Civilians continue to be caught in the middle of clashes and targeted by both sides. In Khartoum North, dozens of protestors took to the streets yesterday and chanted “Burhan is a murderer! Hemeti is a murderer!” While sanctions are an understandable next step, the level of influence that sanctions have is meagre as they are often hollow reactions to state behaviour. The history of sanctions in Africa have produced little, if any, result in the ending of conflict. Nine African nations have current sanctions which have not led to any cessation of hostilities or adherence to human rights. Sanctions have been imposed on Sudan since 2006 on “individuals and entities in connection with the conflict in Darfur”. Yet, international actors continued to work with such individuals responsible for the world’s longest genocide in over a century before the conflict began nearly two months ago.
Leaders who have personally been perpetrators of abuses and atrocities while continuing to commit such crimes cannot be expected to bring an end to a conflict they have been dedicated to for 20 years. Burhan and Hemedti have a history of bloodlust and disregard for civilian rights and safety that appears to be endless. Sanctions imposed on their militaries and personal finances are unlikely to push them to end hostilities and seem ceremonial at best. Additionally, denying the resources needed to pay soldiers may lead to the conflict becoming splintered and incredibly convoluted. With Sudan already experiencing a security vacuum that nefarious actors will likely use to their advantage, soldiers who suddenly have no income may become the perfect target for terrorist recruiting.
According to a Reuters report, both warring side representatives will resume indirect talks. Details have not been provided and, at the time of this writing, neither the SAF or RSF have released comments. Yet, how agreements will be reached remains questionable as the conflict persists and escalates. More disingenuous ceasefires can be expected with violations by both parties continuing. How the conflict unfolds and what will take place in the aftermath will be exacerbated with every day that passes. Should negotiations ever reach a truce and bring an end to the fighting, will the international community hold the responsible parties accountable for such atrocities? Or will yet another African conflict be swept under the rug with criminals granted impunity?