Sudan on the brink of tribal war, advocacy group warns

October 28, 2024 (KHARTOUM) – An advocacy group warned on Wednesday that Sudan is teetering on the brink of a devastating tribal war. The Advocacy Group for Peace in Sudan (AGPS) cited escalating violence fuelled by ethnic tensions and a dangerous narrative of retribution.

The AGPS highlighted a recent surge in attacks by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on villages and settlements in eastern Al-Jazirah state, resulting in civilian casualties and mass displacement. The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have also intensified airstrikes on civilian areas in Darfur, Kordofan, and Al-Jazirah, leading to significant loss of life and infrastructure damage.

“Both sides have dangerously escalated their war narratives, fueling ethnically charged rhetoric that mobilizes communities along ethnic and regional lines,” the AGPS statement said. The group warned that this has led to a volatile rise in tribal loyalty and resentment, particularly in the Butana Plains, Nile River, Northern states, Darfur, Kordofan, and Eastern Sudan.

Local influencers, including community leaders and artists, are amplifying calls for retribution, targeting entire communities associated with various social groups. “This alarming escalation risks tipping the conflict into a catastrophic phase of tribal and regional alignment, threatening widespread massacres and an immense human tragedy,” the AGPS warned.

The AGPS called for immediate and decisive action from the international community to halt the tribal mobilization and prevent a humanitarian disaster. The group urged all parties to the conflict to be held accountable for the looming threat of genocidal crimes.

“Sudan stands on the brink of disaster, with echoes of the 1994 Rwandan tragedy casting a dark shadow over the nation,” the AGPS said. The group emphasized the urgent need for unified action to prevent the country from being irrevocably torn apart by tribal conflict.