Rampage by Paramilitary Forces Leaves Over 800 Dead in Sudan’s Darfur
In a horrific incident in Sudan’s war-torn region of Darfur, fighters from a paramilitary force and their allied Arab militias have carried out a rampage, resulting in the deaths of more than 800 people. Reports from doctors and the United Nations reveal the brutal attack took place in the town of Ardamata.
The assault on Ardamata is the latest in a series of atrocities that have taken place in Darfur as part of the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The war erupted after simmering tensions between Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, the military chief, and Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, the RSF commander, escalated into open warfare.
Chaos has engulfed Sudan since mid-April when both generals ousted a transitional government in a military coup. This takeover brought an end to Sudan’s brief transition to democracy following a popular uprising in April 2019 that overthrew longtime autocratic leader Omar Hassan Ahmed Bashir.
Despite the warring parties returning to the negotiating table in Saudi Arabia, the RSF has continued its advance in Darfur, seizing control of entire cities and towns across the region. The initial round of talks, mediated by the United States and Saudi Arabia, failed to achieve a cease-fire.
The attack in Ardamata followed the RSF’s takeover of a military base in the town after brief clashes with troops stationed there on November 4. According to Salah Tour, the head of the Sudanese Doctor’s Union in West Darfur, the military withdrew from the base, and around two dozen wounded troops sought refuge in neighboring Chad.
Following the capture of the military base, the RSF and their allied militias unleashed a reign of terror in the town. They targeted non-Arab residents in their homes and set fire to shelters housing displaced people. Salah Tour recounted the violence, stating that the RSF and their militias went from house to house, killing and capturing individuals.
The Darfur Bar Association, an advocacy group, accused the RSF fighters of committing serious violations against defenseless civilians in Ardamata. One such attack on November 6 resulted in the deaths of over 50 people, including a tribal leader and his family.
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, more than 800 deaths have been reported, and approximately 8,000 people have fled to Chad. However, these figures are likely underestimated due to the challenges of registering new arrivals in Chad.
The UN agency revealed that around 100 shelters in Ardamata were destroyed, and extensive looting, including the theft of humanitarian aid, took place. Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, expressed concerns of a repeat of the terrible atrocities and human rights violations witnessed in Darfur two decades ago.
The US State Department also expressed deep disturbance over the human rights abuses committed by the RSF and affiliated militias, highlighting killings in Ardamata and the ethnic targeting of Masalit community leaders and members.
Located a few miles north of Geneina, the provincial capital of West Darfur, Ardamata has become the target of the RSF and Arab militias. Previous attacks on Geneina have forced many non-Arab populations to flee to Chad and other areas of Sudan.
The RSF and its allied militias have faced previous accusations of atrocities in Darfur, where a genocidal campaign took place in the early 2000s. These atrocities included rape and gang rape, both in Darfur and in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum. Almost all reported cases were attributed to the RSF.
In July, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees office reported the discovery of a mass grave outside Geneina containing at least 87 bodies, leading to investigations into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the recent Darfur conflict.
The conflict in Darfur has already claimed the lives of approximately 9,000 people and caused one of the worst humanitarian crises in recent history. More than 6 million people have been forced from their homes, with 1.2 million seeking refuge in neighboring countries, according to the UN.
As the situation worsens and the death toll continues to rise, international attention must be focused on resolving the conflict and bringing those responsible for these heinous crimes to justice. The people of Darfur deserve peace and protection from further violence and suffering.
