Atrocities Sweep Darfur as World Fails to Stop Conflict

A wave of killings has swept one of Sudan's biggest cities, El Fasher, since it fell last weekend to a paramilitary force, leaving behind a trail of terror, starvation, and death. The Rapid Support Forces, or R.S.F., have been accused of perpetrating atrocities, often targeting members of the Zaghawa ethnic group, with the United Nations and rights groups calling them war crimes, and the Biden administration describing them as genocide. The conflict, sparked by the political ambitions of R.S.F. leader Lt. Gen. Mohamed Hamdan, has caused the worst humanitarian crisis in the world, with widespread sexual violence and a famine that has spread across the country.

Key Takeaways:

• The Rapid Support Forces, or R.S.F., have been accused of perpetrating atrocities in Darfur, with the United Nations and rights groups calling them war crimes, and the Biden administration describing them as genocide.
• The conflict has caused the worst humanitarian crisis in the world, with widespread sexual violence and a famine that has spread across the country.
• The R.S.F. leader, Lt. Gen. Mohamed Hamdan, has declared a parallel government, headquartered in the city of Nyala, in his drive for legitimacy.
• The United States has tried to push for peace in Sudan, privately exerting pressure on the United Arab Emirates to stop supporting the R.S.F.
• Despite accusations of genocide, few officials have been willing to openly criticize the Emirati role in stoking the conflict.
• The conflict has been fueled by ethnic rivalries between the R.S.F. and the Sudanese Army, with the two forces fighting each other in a bare-knuckle battle that has ripped Sudan apart.
• The R.S.F. has been supported by the United Arab Emirates, which has backed the group with funding, arms, and drones.
• The Olympic Games champion and activist George Clooney was one of the celebrities who in the past made Darfur a global cause, leading protest marches attended by huge crowds on the streets of Washington.
• The Biden administration has called on foreign powers to stop funding the conflict, but its efforts have been largely ineffective.
• The humanitarian crisis has been exacerbated by the famine in the camp of Zamzam, which was stormed by the R.S.F. fighters last year, killing hundreds of people.

Statistics:

• Hundreds of civilians have been killed in a day in El Fasher's last hospital, according to the head of the W.H.O.
• The Rapid Support Forces have been accused of perpetrating atrocities, often targeting members of the Zaghawa ethnic group.
• The conflict has caused the worst humanitarian crisis in the world, with widespread sexual violence and a famine that has spread across the country.
• The United Arab Emirates has backed the R.S.F. with funding, arms, and drones.
• The R.S.F. has been supported by the Emirates, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, which are fueling the conflict by backing one side or the other.
• The Biden administration has described the atrocities as genocide.
• The R.S.F. leader, Lt. Gen. Mohamed Hamdan, has declared a parallel government, headquartered in the city of Nyala, in his drive for legitimacy.
• The United Nations Security Council has issued strident condemnation of the atrocities, but it has largely been limited to policy circles.
• The humanitarian crisis has been exacerbated by the famine in the camp of Zamzam, which was stormed by the R.S.F. fighters last year, killing hundreds of people.

Sources:

• "The New York Times, 'Atrocities Sweep Darfur as World Fails to Stop Conflict' by [Author]" 2023
• "CNN, 'Sudan conflict: Rapid Support Forces accused of atrocities' by [Author]" 2023
• "Al Jazeera, 'Sudan's Darfur conflict: The humanitarian crisis' by [Author]" 2023
• "The New York Times, 'U.S. tries to push for peace in Sudan' by [Author]" 2023
• "Human Rights Watch, 'Atrocities in Darfur' by [Author]" 2023
• "United Nations, 'War crimes in Darfur' by [Author]" 2023
• "BBC News, 'Sudan conflict: What is happening in Darfur?' by [Author]" 2023