More than 20 civilians killed in clashes in southeastern Sudan, UN says

More than 20 civilians were killed and dozens wounded in heavy fighting in the southeastern Sudanese town of Gaysan near the Ethiopian border, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said, adding that the violence has forced thousands from their homes.

“Local sources in the state of Sennar on Tuesday reported that more than 20 civilians were killed and many others injured in clashes in the town of Gaysan. The escalation of violence has displaced around 2,500 people from the town,” OCHA said.

Drone strike, displacement and pressure on services

Local authorities in Gaysan, in Sennar state, said government forces repelled an attack on the town by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their ally, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement–North (SPLM‑N), though they did not provide casualty or damage details. Military sources later told news agencies that clashes continued in Gaysan for a second day.

OCHA also reported an incident in El Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan, where human-rights workers said a drone struck the city on Tuesday morning. “At present there is no information on civilian casualties, but one of the drones reportedly struck a water facility, which is a serious concern at a time when access to clean water remains one of the city’s greatest challenges,” the statement said.

Humanitarian partners warn that continued attacks and insecurity in northern parts of North Kordofan are driving people into El Obeid. Aid agencies estimate that roughly 15,000 families have been displaced to the city over the past three weeks, placing severe strain on already overstretched displacement sites and basic services.

The clashes come amid the wider conflict that erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF over plans to integrate the paramilitary forces into the regular army. The war has killed tens of thousands, displaced millions and produced one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises.

Photo: AU UN IST / Tobin Jones