Sudan’s Darfur Ravaged by Brutal Attack, Over 800 Killed
In a major escalation of violence in Sudan’s Darfur region, more than 800 people were reportedly killed in a multiday attack on Ardamata, West Darfur province. The assault, carried out by fighters from a paramilitary force and their allied Arab militias, has been condemned globally for its brutality and severe human rights violations.
The attack, which occurred earlier this month, is the latest in a series of atrocities marking the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Sudan has been in turmoil since mid-April due to escalating tensions between military chief Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan and RSF commander Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.
The RSF’s recent advances in Darfur, despite peace talks in Saudi Arabia, have exacerbated the region’s humanitarian crisis. The assault in Ardamata began after the RSF seized a military base in the town on November 4. According to Salah Tour, head of the Sudanese Doctor’s Union in West Darfur, the military withdrew, leaving the town vulnerable.
In the aftermath, the RSF and their militias targeted the African Masalit tribe, killing non-Arabs in their homes and burning shelters for displaced people. The Darfur Bar Association accused the RSF of committing severe crimes against civilians, while the UNHCR reported over 800 deaths and 8,000 people fleeing to Chad.
The US State Department expressed deep concern over the RSF’s human rights abuses, including ethnic targeting. Ardamata’s proximity to Geneina, the provincial capital of West Darfur, adds to its strategic significance, making it a focal point of the conflict.
The UN and international rights groups have previously accused the RSF and Arab militias of atrocities in Darfur, including rape and gang rape. The International Criminal Court is investigating war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur’s latest fighting.
