RSF’s Sinjah takeover sparks mass displacement, humanitarian crisis unfolds

June 30, 2024 (SENNAR) – A mass exodus of civilians from Sennar, Al-Dinder, and surrounding areas is underway as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) consolidate their control over Sinjah, the capital of Sennar State.

The RSF seized Sinjah on Saturday, advancing from their positions in Jabal Moya, a strategic region connecting Sennar with other states. They swiftly took control of the army base, government headquarters, and began looting and terrorizing residents.

Fearing escalating violence, thousands have fled towards Gedaref in eastern Sudan. Displaced individuals arriving in Gedaref report that many more remain trapped, unable to escape the RSF’s advance.

The displacement has caused widespread family separation, with children and elderly people separated from their loved ones. Volunteers in Ad-Damazin, Blue Nile State, are offering shelter to some of the displaced, while others are relying on the hospitality of local communities.

The Sennar Observatory for Human Rights has decried the “greatest humanitarian suffering in the city’s history,” citing rampant looting, home invasions, and assaults by the RSF. Civilians trapped in Sinjah are also enduring aerial bombardment and artillery fire from the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), who are attempting to regain control of the city.

The observatory reports that the SAF has closed the Sinjah-Wad Al-Ezz bridge, preventing many from escaping and forcing some to risk a dangerous river crossing. They have issued an urgent plea to international aid organizations to assist the displaced.

Despite the SAF’s efforts, the RSF remains in control of Jabal Moya and Sinjah, while the army holds positions in Sennar city, where they have successfully repelled RSF attacks in recent days. The situation remains volatile, with further displacement and humanitarian suffering expected in the coming days.