Sudan's 14-Month War: New Battlefront Erupts in Sennar

Fighting has intensified in Sudan as clashes between the military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces spread to Sennar province. The conflict, now entering its 14th month, has led to severe humanitarian crises, including extreme food shortages and mass displacements, with thousands killed and wounded.

Fighting has erupted fiercely between Sudan's military and the notorious paramilitary group, Rapid Support Forces, in the central province of Sennar, officials confirmed on Sunday. This marks a new front in the 14-month war that has plunged the African nation to the precipice of famine.

The Rapid Support Forces commenced their offensive earlier this week, targeting Jebal Moya village and subsequently advancing to Singa, the province's capital. They claimed to have overrun the military's 17th Infantry Division Headquarters. Local reports corroborated that the paramilitary group breached military defenses.

Contrarily, Brigadier Nabil Abdalla, spokesperson for the Sudanese armed forces, stated the military had regained the facility, with combat continuing on Sunday. These claims remain unverified.

The UN's International Organization for Migration reported that at least 327 households fled Jebal Moya and Singa for safer locations. 'The situation remains tense and unpredictable,' their statement read. In Singa, residents noted rampant looting by RSF fighters, who seized valuables, including vehicles and mobile phones.

'They are repeating the violence seen in Khartoum and other cities,' said Abdel-Rahman al-Taj, a Singa local who escaped to Blue Nile province. 'Many were killed, wounded, or detained.' The RSF has also been accused of using patients and medical staff as human shields at the Singa Educational Hospital, converting it into a military hub—a clear violation of international humanitarian laws. The RSF did not respond to requests for comment.

While eyes have been on the besieged city of al-Fasher in Darfur, Sennar's violence adds another layer of complexity. Al-Fasher remains a crucial military redoubt in Darfur.

This protracted conflict has resulted in over 14,000 deaths and 33,000 injuries, according to the United Nations, though activists believe these numbers could be much higher. It has also triggered the world's largest displacement crisis, with more than 11 million people turned into refugees. Alarmingly, 755,000 people face imminent famine, and 8.5 million are grappling with severe food shortages.

Marked by widespread reports of sexual violence and other atrocities, the war has seen behaviors that rights groups classify as war crimes and crimes against humanity, especially in Darfur, which experienced genocide in the early 2000s.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)