Fighting in Nyala town triggers fresh displacement

A man walks past a devastated market area in al-Fasher, the capital of Sudan's North Darfur state, on 1 September 2023 (AFP)

Hundreds of families have fled from Nyala town in Sudan’s South Darfur State due to renewed fighting between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Hundreds of families have fled from Nyala town in Sudan’s South Darfur State due to renewed fighting between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Radio Tamazuj correspondent monitored increasing waves of fresh displacements late last week and reported that many families from South Darfur State are currently seeking refuge in North and East Darfur states and neighbouring countries after renewed violence.

He attributes the fresh displacement in Nyala town to renewed fighting between the Sudanese armed forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, besides inter-communal violence in the area.  

For its part, the African Center for Peace and Justice Studies has warned against human rights violations committed against civilians and human rights defenders in the town of Nyala and other areas amid armed clashes between the two warring parties and inter-communal violence in Kabam between the Salamat and Beni Halba tribes recently.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj, a lawyer and researcher at the centre also confirmed that there are new waves of displacement of citizens from the town of Nyala and the areas of Kabam, Manwashi, Buram and various villages to the towns of El Fashir and El Daein, and many crossed into South Sudan, Uganda and Kenya.

The rights group pointed out that the displaced people included human rights defenders and citizens in eight neighbourhoods in the vicinity of the Sudanese army barracks in the city of Nyala, in addition to neighbourhoods in the vicinity of the Rapid Support Forces centres.

Last week, the governor of North Darfur State confirmed the arrival of at least 40,000 displaced people to the city of El Fashir due to the fighting, and he appealed to humanitarian organizations and UN agencies to provide assistance to the displaced in El Fashir town.

About 5.4 million people have fled their homes and sought refuge within Sudan or neighbouring countries since fighting started in mid-April, according to the latest UNOCHA report.

Also, an estimated 188,000 refugees have abandoned hotspot areas to other locations across Sudan.