🔗 Share this article

Over 36,000 civilians have evacuated from Sudan's Kordofan territory east of Darfur since Saturday, as stated by the UN's migration agency.

The strategic central area separating the country's Darfur areas and the Khartoum-Riverine region has during recent weeks become the newest conflict zone in the two-year civil war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary forces.

Massive Displacement Figures

An calculated 36,825 people evacuated from five localities in North Kordofan region between 26 October and 31 October, as reported by the International Organization for Migration.

The individuals, mainly traveling by foot, headed to Tawila, a town western side of El Fasher that is currently accommodating in excess of 652,000 displaced people.

Escalated Military Presence

Citizens of North Kordofan on Monday described a significant increase in both RSF and army presence across towns and villages throughout the state.

Both armed factions are competing for control of El Obeid, the North Kordofan state capital and a critical supply and command center that connects Darfur to Khartoum.

"Today, all our forces have assembled at the Bara front here," commented an RSF member in a recently circulated video declaration.

Area Citizens Describe Security Concerns

A resident of Um Smeima, located west of El Obeid, reported that the quantity of RSF vehicles had grown significantly since the group's seizure of El Fasher.

"We ceased visiting our farms, fearing fighting," the individual stated.

Another civilian, who requested anonymity for safety concerns, also reported that "there has been a big increase in army vehicles and weapons west and south of El Obeid" over the last fourteen days.

World Warnings and Appeals

A senior UN official expressed concerns last week about "extensive crimes" and "ethnically motivated reprisals" by RSF in Bara.

The diplomat alerted to patterns echoing those in Darfur, where RSF combatants have been charged with mass killings, sexual violence and abductions against specific ethnic communities.

The spiritual head on Sunday called for an quick cessation of hostilities and the opening of humanitarian corridors in Sudan, stating that attacks on civilians and hindrances to humanitarian aid "are causing unacceptable suffering."

Sudan's diplomatic representative to Egypt on Sunday accused RSF of committing war crimes in El Fasher and stated that the Sudanese government would not negotiate with the militia organization.

The representative further urged the international community to designate the group as a terrorist group.