North Darfur governor calls to allow civilians to evacuate potential conflict zones
El Fasher, Sudan – November 1, 2023 – The governor of North Darfur, Nimr Abdel Rahman, on Wednesday, appealed to the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to allow civilians to leave the sites of possible clashes between the two parties.
On Tuesday, the RSF fiercely attacked advanced positions of the 6th Infantry Division command in the city of El Fasher. The army responded with heavy artillery, targeting RSF sites and positions east of the city. The clashes, which continued for hours, caused casualties among civilians and the destruction of a number of homes.
Eyewitnesses told Sudan Tribune that the RSF continue to arrive in El Fasher in large numbers from South Darfur state.
This week, the RSF intensified their military operations in the Darfur region, taking control of the command of the 16th Infantry Division in the city of Nyala, the capital of South Darfur state, and the 21st Division in Zalingei, the capital of Central Darfur state.
In a message addressed to the residents of El Fasher from Juba, the capital of South Sudan, Governor Abdel Rahman said, “I appeal to citizens to stay away from military places where the two parties to the military conflict are present, in order to preserve their lives. I also appeal to the army and the RSF to allow citizens to leave all areas that could put their lives and property at risk.”
Abdel Rahman expressed regret over the renewed fighting in El Fasher, despite the great efforts led by the Committee of Elders of North Darfur and the armed movements that signed the Juba Peace Agreement to reduce tension and prevent renewed military confrontations between the two forces.
“We worked together to preserve the lives of citizens and spare the city from the danger of war and battles, and now the spark of fighting has begun,” he said.
El Fasher hosts large numbers of displaced people from South and West Darfur, and the city also has a number of displacement camps that shelter thousands of victims of the previous war between the Sudanese army and the armed movements in the Darfur region.
Minnawi reacts
Following the call of the North Darfur governor, Darfur Governor Minni Minnawi said he too is trying to prevent war in El Fasher because the city is crowded with displaced people from all over Darfur and is an important food artery for the region.
“We call on rapid support to avoid attacking El Fasher and El Geneina, because they are cities that have suffered greatly from war and displacement. As long as negotiations are ongoing in Jeddah, the focus must be on negotiation,” he added.
(ST)