Sudan militia accused of mass killings and sexual violence as attacks escalate
GuardianOct 26
UN Chief: Sudanese People Living a 'Nightmare of Violence'
Above: Smoke rising from a post belonging to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces RSF after a drone attack launched by the Sudanese Armed Forces SAF, in Khartoum, Sudan on Aug. 26, 2023. Image copyright: Xinhua News Agency/Contributor via Getty Images
The Facts
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned on Monday that the people of Sudan are enduring a "nightmare" marked by hunger, disease, and ethnic violence amidst the world's largest displacement crisis. However, he also stated that the conditions are not yet suitable for the deployment of a UN force.
Guterres called for "decisive action" from rival generals Abdel-Fattah al-Burhan, who leads the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to put an end to the ongoing violence. He noted that, 18 months into the war, 25M people now require humanitarian aid.
The Spin
Narrative A
As Sudan burns, a cynical game of geopolitical chess unfolds. The UAE funnels weapons to the RSF while Egypt and Saudi Arabia back the opposing SAF. Russia plays both sides opportunistically, even as arms from China, Turkey, Iran, and Serbia flood the battlefield. Meanwhile, the same neighboring countries arming the conflict turn away desperate refugees. The UN's humanitarian efforts remain critically underfunded despite the international community's indifference.
Narrative B
The unspeakable and underreported tragedy of Sudan is the suffering of its children. Nearly 5M are suffering from hunger — many in crowded refugee camps. Once-ambitious students who nurtured dreams now sit idle, their education stolen. Each day brings new horrors — child soldiers, sexual violence, and the crushing weight of trauma. A generation stands at the precipice with all stakeholders in the conflict bearing responsibility for their future.