Both Sides Target Civilians & Activists as Violence Continues

Current Figures

• At least 822 killed and 3,215 wounded 

• IOM: 843,130 IDPs

• UN calls for $3 billion in aid

• Burhan freezes all RSF bank accounts

• UNHCR: Over 222,343 refugees & returnees have fled

• Egypt: 88,873 (Sudanese refugees: 83,758, Other refugees: 5,115)

• Chad: 60,000 (Sudanese refugees: 60,000)

• South Sudan: 60,356 (Sudanese refugees: 1,350, Other refugees: 2,276, Refugee returnees: 56,730)

• CAR: 9,730 (Sudanese refugees: 6,333, Refugee returnees: 3,397)

• Ethiopia: 3,384 (Sudanese refugees: 300, Other refugees: 3,041, Refugee returnees: 43)

SAF Arbitrary Arrests

Three pro-democracy activists were arrested by the Sudanese military on Tuesday morning. Mohamad Adam, Mohamad al-Fattah, and Mohamad al-Bushra were attending a meeting to plan how to get aid to internally displaced persons (IDPs) when they were arrested. Adam and al-Fattah frequently distributed aid, including food, to arrivals in Madani who had fled the fighting in Khartoum. At this time, the reason for their arrest is unknown. “Activists and analysts say the arrests on Tuesday are part of a broader campaign by the army and allied forces to crack down on well-known personalities from the pro-democracy movement and consolidate control over aid relief.”

Since the conflict began, activists, journalists, medical personnel, and politicians have been attacked, with many of them killed. “On May 7, the army detained two men from a resistance committee for escorting wounded RSF fighters to a hospital, before publishing a statement that justified the arrests by equating the activists with enemy combatants.” According to Sudanese analyst and resistance committee member Hamid Murtada, the SAF pushes a narrative that because resistance committees are involved in humanitarian aid, they are collaborating with the RSF. “That gives the [army] an excuse to target them, kidnap them and even kill them.” Members of the committee stated that they do not support either side of the conflict. 

Pro-democracy civilians and activists are also being challenged in the Port of Sudan. “Hundreds of people in Port Sudan protested on Wednesday in support of the Sudanese military’s battle against the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary, and called for the expulsion of the UN special envoy to Sudan, Volker Perthes.” Pro-democracy activists stated that the rally was propaganda by the army and that the groups protesting have ties to Omar al-Bashir’s regime. “Instead of playing these politics and adopting the agenda of the old regime, it’s better for those leaders to at least stand against the violations that are being committed by the two warring parties,” an anonymous activist stated. 

The Red Sea State government hosted meetings on May 17th to “discuss the obstruction of the work of the United Nations envoy to Sudan, and his expulsion from the country.” Source: Sudan News

Doctors and Aid Efforts Targeted

Chaos in providing aid and medical care continues with both parties breaching promises outlined in the Jeddah Declaration. Only 16% of Sudan’s hospitals are still in operation. Doctors have reported that the RSF will cut in front of wounded civilians, pushing that they need care first. Doctors continue to receive death threats from those connected with Bashir’s regime, with some fleeing or going into hiding. At least 11 doctors have been killed thus far. According to a doctor from the Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors, “The purpose of this threat is to end all the tools of the revolution, including resistance committees and trade unions, so that they do not continue their civil struggle.”

Some humanitarian aid operations have been able to resume, including the delivery of 235,000 litres of clean water to health facilities in Darfur and Doctors Without Borders assisting medical personnel in Khartoum. Yet reports of targeting civilians, aid workers, and doctors continue. Those in West Darfur have been bearing the brunt of the conflict as those in residential areas experienced three days of heavy artillery. In Al Geneina, there have been reports of indiscriminate shooting, resulting in hundreds of deaths, and at least 18 IDP sites being destroyed. The situation in Al Geneina has been described as “catastrophic,” with humanitarian organisations having their facilities looted and field workers being injured and killed. In just a few days of the signing of the Jeddah Declaration, some operations have been forced to stop. 

Looking Forward

Public support of the SAF from primarily those with ties to Bashir’s regime will make the goal of acquiring peace in Sudan exponentially challenging. Even if the two generals are able to reach a truce at some point, how might Bashir’s loyalists respond? Bashir’s connections are working hard to further propaganda, create further discord, and threaten activists and doctors. They are adamant that they do not want pro-democracy Sudanese or foreign interventions involved; demanding that Volker Perthes leaves as he is an enemy to Sudan and declaring that “Sudan is a free country.” Are Bashir loyalists setting the stage for something bigger and more dangerous for the state of Sudan? How will this impact ongoing negotiation talks or future efforts to formulate a transitional government? It is also worrying when considering Bashir’s whereabouts are still unknown and what types of actions he and his followers may take in the future. Is Bashir free and acting as a leader in this convoluted conflict? Could Bashir attempt a return to power at some point? 

Both sides are employing intimidation factors and are actively targeting not only civilians, but those who would play an important role in any future efforts to implement a civilian-run government. According to an anonymous activist, “Janjaweed militia and RSF are using [gunmen] to shoot people who have influence like leaders, intellectuals and professionals.” And despite the SAF continuing its propaganda campaign as a protector of civilians, it is likely that attacks and arbitrary arrests will continue. The Sudanese who could revitalise their nation through their devotion to helping others in dire need and advocating for human rights are being horrifically targeted by both parties. As the conflict continues, these heroic figures are at grave risk and may dwindle in numbers. As these leaders, doctors, and activists flee and perish, so too does any hope for Sudan.