Sudan: Kordofan region becomes a new war zone. Dilling in South Kordofan is in peril due to armed conflict between three powerful warring parties

HERE is a copy of a Jan 12 post at X by Will Carter @WillCarter_NRC, Country Director for Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) in Sudan. Note that it says: "the entire State of South Kordofan has largely been cut off from vital humanitarian aid since April. Many civilians are trapped with no way to reach safer places. NRC staff in South Kordofan, like most civilians, have mostly been unable to communicate.  Kordofan region becomes a new war zone". Read full text below.

We're gravely concerned that another city in #Sudan, Dilling in South #Kordofan, is in terrible peril, due to armed conflict between three powerful warring parties.

Over the past few days, thousands of residents have been forced to leave, although the city is now surrounded by…

— William Carter (@WillCarter_NRC) January 12, 2024 

"We're gravely concerned that another city in #Sudan, Dilling in South #Kordofan, is in terrible peril, due to armed conflict between three powerful warring parties. 

Over the past few days, thousands of residents have been forced to leave, although the city is now surrounded by these military, paramilitary, and rebel forces and some are unable to flee. 

A looming threat of #ethnic violence hangs over Dilling and beyond. Further, the entire State of South Kordofan has largely been cut off from vital humanitarian aid since April, due to unsafe roads, denied permissions for #humanitarian workers, frequent clashes, and a significant presence of armed groups. 

Many civilians are trapped with no way to reach safer places. This may be the first time since April that Sudan has seen its three most powerful forces engaged in a single battle, marking a troubling new phase in this escalating and fragmenting civil war. 

Our staff in South Kordofan, like most civilians, have mostly been unable to communicate. Although we are in daily contact, how this armed conflict will affect the millions of people in the greater (and extremely neglected) Kordofan region is an anxious uncertainty. 

As the Kordofan region becomes a new #war zone, it's crucial that all warring parties prioritise protecting civilians, allow safe passage for those fleeing, and ensure unrestricted access for humanitarian efforts. Unfortunately, this hasn't happened so far."

9:55 AM · Jan 12, 2024
https://twitter.com/WillCarter_NRC/status/1745746200832176454

ENDS

Sudan Humanitarian Update (14 January 2024)

HERE is a full copy of an analysis from UN OCHA Sunday, 14 January 2024.

SUDAN Humanitarian Update (14 January 2024)

HIGHLIGHTS

•  More than 7.4 million people have been displaced inside and outside Sudan since fighting broke out between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on 15 April 2023.
 

•  The number of people displaced in Sudan has increased by about 611,000 over the past month, mainly due to the conflict-induced displacement from parts of Aj Jazirah and other states.
 

•  The expansion of fighting between SAF and the RSF into central and eastern Sudan—the country's most important regions for crop production—has driven a significant increase in humanitarian needs during the harvest season, according to FEWS NET.
 

•  Insecurity, looting, bureaucratic impediments, poor network and phone connectivity, lack of cash, and limited technical and humanitarian staff are affecting the delivery of humanitarian aid in many parts of the country.
 

•  The 2024 Sudan Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan appeal is 3.1 per cent funded as of 14 January 2024.

Click here for the PDF

Click here to read online

SITUATION OVERVIEW

Almost nine months after the fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) erupted on 15 April 2023 in the capital Khartoum, more than 7.4 million people have fled their homes, taking refuge inside and outside Sudan, with children representing about half of the people displaced. Sudan is now the country with the largest number of displaced people and the largest child displacement crisis in the world. 

According to the International Organization for Migration Displacement Tracking Matrix (IOM DTM) Sudan Weekly Displacement Snapshot (16), more than 6 million people have been displaced within Sudan, increasing by an estimated 611,000 people over the past month mainly due to new displacements from Aj Jazirah and other states since 15 December 2023. IOM DTM reported in its update on Aj Jazirah State displacement that about 509,800 people were displaced by fighting in Aj Jazirah. About 205,500 of them were displaced in other safe locations within Aj Jazirah, and another 304,336 IDPs fled to other states across Sudan, including Gedaref (64,551 IDPs), Sennar (60,000 IDPs), Red Sea (50,035 IDPs), White Nile (40,750 IDPs), River Nile (30,000 IDPs), Kassala (30,000 IDPs), Blue Nile (15,000 IDPs), and Northern (14,000 IDPs) states. 

The 6 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) are sheltering in 6,282 locations across all of Sudan’s 18 states, an increase of 343 locations over the past month. The highest number of IDPs were observed in South Darfur (12 per cent), East Darfur (11 per cent), River Nile (11 per cent), Aj Jazirah (8 per cent), White Nile (8 per cent), and North Darfur (8 per cent). IOM DTM field teams report that the IDPs were originally displaced from 12 states, the majority of whom (about 3.7 million people or 61 per cent of the total displaced) were reportedly displaced from Khartoum State, followed by South Darfur (15 per cent), North Darfur (8 per cent), Aj Jazirah (5 per cent), Central Darfur (4 per cent), West Darfur (3 per cent), and the rest in other six states. In addition, more than 1.4 million people have crossed into neighbouring countries since 15 April 2023, according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). 

Expanding conflict and displacement drive even higher needs during the harvest – FEWS NET

The expansion of fighting between the SAF and the RSF into parts of central and eastern Sudan—the country's most important regions for crop production—has driven a significant increase in humanitarian needs during the harvesting season (December and January),reports FEWS NET. This development is expected to lead to considerable deterioration in acute food insecurity in the southeast from what was previously expected, worsening an already dire situation, according to FEWS NET’s Sudan - Food Security Outlook Update. Widespread Crisis (IPC Phase 3) levels of food insecurity are expected across much of the country, with Emergency (IPC Phase 4) outcomes expected in the heavily conflict-affected urban areas of Khartoum, greater Darfur, greater Kordofan, and parts of Blue Nile states. Of highest concern are populations in parts of Khartoum, Ag Geneina, Nyala, Wad Madani, and among the displaced due to the impact of intensive fighting and disruption to humanitarian assistance.

Impact of conflict on civilians

In South Kordofan State, clashes renewed on 7 January between the Sudanese People’s Liberation Movement-North (Al-Hilu faction) and SAF against the RSF in Abu Zaid and Al Matar neighbourhoods of Dilling town, South Kordofan State. The incident follows previously reported clashes on 9 December 2023.IOM DTM field teams reported that 2,840 people were displaced and sought refuge in Khamis village in Dilling locality following the clashes, while about 320 newly displaced people arrived in Dibebad town in Al Quoz locality in South Kordofan.

In North Kordofan State, tensions rose on 3 January between the RSF and Sudanese People’s Liberation Movement-North Al-Hilu faction in Broka village of Ar Rahad locality, reports IOM DTM. As a result, about 430 people (86 families) were displaced and are taking refuge in Al Huda, Al Safa, and Al Shati’ neighbourhoods in Ar Rahad Town as well as in Aradeba, Tendalti, Umm Habila and As Sawani villages in Ar Rahad locality. The situation remains tense and unpredictable. There are 137,300 IDPs in North Kordofan State post-April 2023, according to IOM DTM.

On 8 January 2024, armed clashes renewed between the SAF and the RSF in El Obeid town, the capital of North Kordofan State. Clashes were reported in southern neighbourhoods of El Obeid town. While no civilian displacement was reported, the situation on the ground remains tense and unpredictable, IOM DTM reported.

In North Darfur State, clashes between SAF and RSF renewed on 9 January at the Melit checkpoint in Al Fasher Town, Al Fasher locality. IOM Field teams reported that approximately 250 people (50 families) were displaced from Abu Shock and Al Salam IDP camps to neighbourhoods in the west of Al Fasher Town. The situation remains tense and unpredictable.

Almost 9,000 suspected cases of cholera – a 43 per cent increase in one month

Almost 9,000 suspected cases of cholera, including 245 associated deaths, were reported as of 6 January 2024 from 46 localities of nine states, according to the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) and the World Health Organization (WHO) Sudan Outbreaks Dashboard. This is an increase of about 43 per cent compared to the number of cases reported on 6 December 2023. However, this indicates a downward trend and a much lower increase compared to previous months. Between 6 November – 6 December the number of cases increased by 143 per cent, and between 6 October and 6 November the increase was 175 per cent. During December 2023, oral cholera vaccination campaigns have been organized in Gedaref and Aj Jazirah states, with about 2.2 million people vaccinated. There are 2,746 suspected cases and 95 associated deaths in Red Sea; 2,036 suspected cases of cholera and 50 associated deaths in Gedaref; 1,860 suspected cases and 26 associated deaths in Aj Jazirah; 1,246 suspected cases and 32 associated deaths in White Nile; 525 suspected cases and 26 associated deaths in Khartoum; 346 suspected cases and eight associated deaths in South Kordofan; 121 suspected cases and four associated deaths in Sennar; 99 suspected cases and four associated deaths in Kassala; and three suspected case in Blue Nile State.

Increase in desert locust groups and small bands in December 2023

During December, the first winter generation of locust hatching finished on Sudan’s Red Sea coast from Eritrea to Egypt, according to the most recent Desert Locust Bulletin of the Food and Agriculture Organization. As a result, there was an increase in the number of desert locust hopper groups and small bands during the month. Hopper groups are forming ground or basking groups, with 20 and more adult locusts per 400 m foot transecting or 500 or more locusts per hectare. According to the FAO, in response to environmental stimuli, dense and highly mobile desert locust swarms can form. They are ravenous eaters who consume their own weight per day, targeting food crops and forage. A single square kilometre of swarm can contain up to 80 million adults, with the capacity to consume the same amount of food in one day as 35,000 people. Large swarms pose a major threat to food security and rural livelihoods. In the second week, fledgling and immature groups formed, while a few mature groups were copulating near Karora and the Eritrea border. Hoppers, adults, and some groups were observed in the northeast subcoastal region from Tomala to Sufiya and the Egypt border. Control operations treated 22,677 hectares of land along the coast, of which 3,550 were by air. Hoppers, adults, groups, and very small bands and swarms will continue during January along the Red Sea coast and subcoastal area. A second generation could occur with hatching and hopper groups and bands from the second half of January and new adult groups appearing in early March.

HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE

Various challenges - insecurity, looting, bureaucratic impediments, poor network and phone connectivity, lack of cash, and limited technical and humanitarian staff on the ground – have been affecting the delivery of humanitarian assistance in many parts of the country. Fuel shortages also affect the movement of humanitarian staff and supplies and the generation of power needed for operations (maintaining cold chain storage, supplying water, etc). Despite all these challenges, humanitarian partners continue to provide life-saving assistance to the vulnerable people they can reach. 

Overall, between 15 April and 30 November 2023, 163 humanitarian partners provided about 5.2 million people across Sudan with life-saving assistance according to the latest Humanitarian Response Dashboard. 

For more information on cluster-specific response see the latest Sudan Humanitarian Response Dashboard.

HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE PLAN FUNDING OVERVIEW

The 2024 Sudan Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP) requires US$2.7 billion to provide life-saving multi-cluster and protection assistance to 14.7 million people across Sudan in 2024. As of 14 January 2024, the appeal is 3.1 per cent funded, with $83.8 million received, according to the Financial Tracking Service. The Sudan Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan for 2023 was 41.8 per cent funded. 

***

See entire digital situation report for Sudan

Previous updates: Sudan Humanitarian Update, 4 January 2024

OCHA coordinates the global emergency response to save lives and protect people in humanitarian crises. We advocate for effective and principled humanitarian action by all, for all. https://www.unocha.org/sudan

ENDS

Sudan: Addis Ababa Declaration - Tagaddum seeks to build ‘broadest democratic civil front possible’

FURTHER below is a link to the full text of the Addis Ababa Declaration, featured in this report by Radio Dabanga, followed by three related reports.

From Radio Dabanga, ADDIS ABABA / KHARTOUM
Dated Wednesday, 10 January 2024; 20:48 - here is a copy in full:

Sudan’s Tagaddum seeks to build ‘broadest democratic civil front possible’

'No to war. The people are no shield' (File photo Supplied)

The Civil Democratic Forces alliance has invited hold-out rebel movements and political parties in Sudan for an urgent consultation meeting about the building of a broad democratic civil front against the ongoing war between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support forces (RSF). The resistance committees have not received an invitation.

On Saturday, the Civil Democratic Forces alliance, better known as Tagaddum (meaning progress in Arabic), consisting of the Sudanese Congress Party, the National Umma Party, the SPLM-Democratic Revolutionary Movement, and other members of the Forces for Freedom and Change-Central Council (FFC-CC*), sent invitations to Sudanese hold-out parties and groups calling on them to join “urgent and direct meetings to build the broadest democratic civil front possible and to discuss ways to end the current war”.

In a statement received by Radio Dabanga yesterday, Tagaddum pledged that its members “will spare no effort to end the war in the country” and underscored the importance of communicating with all “revolutionary and patriotic forces seeking to stop the war and bring about a democratic civil transformation”.

The chairperson of Tagaddum, former Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok, stated on his X account (formerly Twitter) on Saturday that “in continuation of our efforts to save the nation from the scourge of the devastating war”, he sent messages to the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North led by Abdelaziz El Hilu (SPLM-N El Hilu), the Sudan Liberation Movement under the leadership of Abdelwahid El Nur (SLM-AW), the Communist Party of Sudan, and the Arab Socialist Ba’ath Party, requesting an urgent meeting for consultations about “building the broadest front to stop the war, and to lay the building blocks for the Sudan of the future, a Sudan in whose skies the flags of freedom, peace, justice, and equality fly”.

Received

The SLM-AW confirmed they received the invitation. The movement’s spokesperson, Abdelrahman El Nayer, told Radio Dabanga that it will be discussed at the next meeting of the SLM High Leadership Council.

The SLM-AW itself “is seeking, with all actors in Sudan, to stop the violence in the country, as it is a national issue that requires all Sudanese to do their utmost to stop this war”.

El Nayer referred to the Sudanese-Sudanese dialogue proposed by the movement in former years to solve the root causes of the recurring Sudanese crises. “We were going to announce the inter-Sudanese dialogue in 2019, but it was delayed for multiple reasons. Yet we do believe that the Sudanese-Sudanese dialogue is the best solution,” he explained.

“Currently, the priority now is to end the war. After the violence has been stopped, we will be able to address the roots of the crises that led Sudan to wars since 1955 until today, and when the time comes, we will put forward this initiative.”

The SPLM-N El Hilu as well received Hamdok’s invitation, Mohamed Yousef, one of the movements leaders and former Minister of Labour, told Radio Dabanga, without providing further details.

The Arab Socialist Baath Party announced it has agreed to the meeting, while the Communist Party has not yet announced its position.

Addis Ababa Declaration

On January 2, the Civil Democratic Forces alliance, represented by Hamdok, signed an agreement with RSF Commander Mohamed ‘Hemedti’ Dagalo in Addis Ababa, in which the paramilitary group agrees “to immediately and unconditionally stop hostilities” in direct negotiations with the SAF provided that the Tagaddum leaders agree with the army commanders “to adhere to the same procedures”.

Hamdok had also invited Lt Gen Abdelfattah El Burhan, commander-in-chief of the SAF for a similar meeting but has not received a response so far.

The signing of the agreement elicited diverse responses from Sudan’s various political stakeholders.

El Burhan warned Tagaddum “to stay away from the RSF leader if they are patriots” and “not to turn against the SAF as the militia did” in a speech on Friday.

The Darfur Bar Association (DBA) expressed a mix of approval and criticism, welcoming the agreement’s focus on humanitarian issues but pointed out flaws related to the political process and the potential legitimisation of military involvement in civilian affairs.

Ahmed Babiker, leading member of the Arab Socialist Ba’ath Party, strongly criticised the agreement, viewing it as a setback for civilian forces and a potential catalyst for the militarisation of political life. He warned against giving legitimacy to armed groups seeking a political role.

The Communist Party of Sudan, which in 2019 refused to talk with the junta and withdrew from the FFC in end 2020, also denounced the Addis Ababa Declaration, warning of “repeating any form of partnership with the military”.

In a statement on Saturday, the party’s political bureau said that Tagaddum “has no right to deviate from its duties to stop the war” and directed sharp criticism concerning “the partnering with the military and RSF and circumventing the principles of impunity”.

The bureau stressed the importance of “opening safe corridors for relief items to reach those affected and securing the return of the displaced people to their homes” – an issue also cited in the Addis Ababa Declaration.

The party said it categorically rejects “calls by affiliates of the Al Bashir regime on civilians to take up arms,” and warned that this development will turn the current RSF-SAF conflict into a civil war “that will tear apart the country’s unity, threaten regional and international security, and open the way for international intervention”.

According to the Communist Party the only step forward constitutes of “building the broadest mass coalition to stop the war and restore the revolution, until it achieves its goals of democratic civil rule and accomplishes the tasks of the transitional period”.

Resistance committees

The resistance committees** that signed the Revolutionary Charter for People’s Authority in September 2022, have not been invited yet by Tagaddum to join the building of “the broadest democratic civil front possible”.

In a statement, received by Radio Dabanga yesterday, the grassroots committees announced their “firm and supportive position for all options to end the war and address its roots completely” but criticised the Addis Ababa Declaration for omitting “pivotal issues”.

The Tagaddum-RSF agreement “did not refer to all parties to the Juba Peace Agreement”, signed in October 2020 by the Sudanese government and the Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF) rebel alliance. “This can be considered a deliberate marginalisation by both parties of the rebel movements, in particular because of their position against the RSF.”

The grassroots activists described the Tagaddum-RSF approach to war and peace as fragmented, “in a way that only leads to a re-experience of earlier fragmented bilateral agreements signed in Naivasha, Abuja, Asmara, Cairo, and Juba, which turned out to be completely unsuccessful”.

The statement in particular faulted the political declaration for not addressing “the humanitarian crisis of the Masalit community and their mass displacement [from in West Darfur], caused by ethnic cleansing and genocide, and the occupation of their land by the RSF and their allies”.

Therefore, a comprehensive transitional justice process is needed, and should be part of any agreement. “Following the principle of non-impunity, all leaders directly involved in human rights violations should step down, to ensure the progress of justice procedures” – though the grassroots committees do not deny “the impossibility of the RSF acknowledging all its records of violations in the wars in Darfur and the Nuba Mountains, and the violent dispersal of the Khartoum sit-in” in June 2019.

The committees also indicated that the declaration “does not address the real risks associated with the reality of demographic change” and warned that it would lead to the accumulation of grievances and to the deepening of the crisis of the historical Sudanese conflict linked to conflicts over land.

* The FFC has been prone to divisions since its formation in early January 2019. The National Umma Party (NUP), the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), and the Socialist Arabic Ba’ath Party, which already witnessed internal splits during the reign of Al Bashir, fragmented further due to opposing views and standpoints on talks with the military. The Communist Party of Sudan withdrew from the FFC in the end of 2020. The mainstream Ba’ath Party left the coalition two year later. The FFC-CC now  consists of several (split-off) political parties and new groups such as the SPLM–Democratic Revolutionary Movement (DRM).

** The resistance committees that emerged during the 2018 December Revolution played an incredibly important part in Sudan’s pro-democracy movement ever since. The -mainly young- members emerged as watchdogs making sure that political parties and groups would not compromise on the ideals of the December revolution in exchange for government power, prominent Sudanese political scientist Atta El Battahani wrote in 2021. In November 2020, a year after a democratic transitional government was formed by Hamdok, the FFC began discussing the formation of a new legislative council. The resistance committees questioned FFC’s distribution of the 300 parliamentary seats and withdrew from the discussions. A legislative council was not formed. In January last year, the resistance committees of Khartoum began establishing local legislative councils in the city’s districts, which was to lead to the formation of a national parliament.

View original: https://www.dabangasudan.org/en/all-news/article/sudans-tagaddum-seeks-build-broadest-democratic-civil-front-possible

___________________________

Related Reports

Full Text: Addis Ababa Declaration

Addis Ababa Declaration between
The Coordination Body of the Democratic Civil Forces (Taqaddum) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF)

Dated Tuesday, 02 January 2024

To view full text or download original click here: 

https://sudantribune.com/article280972/

___

Asharq Al-Awsa - Wednesday, January 03, 2024 

Hemedti, Hamdok Sign Addis Ababa Declaration in Hope of Ending Sudan War 

Photo: RSF leader Hemedti (L) and former PM Hamdok sign the Addis Ababa Declaration on Tuesday, 02 January 2024 (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Full story: https://english.aawsat.com/arab-world/4765891-hemedti-hamdok-sign-addis-ababa-declaration-hope-ending-sudan-war%C2%A0

___

Sudan Tribune - Wednesday, January 03, 2024

IGAD leader reaffirms to civilian forces commitment to peace in Sudan

Photo: President Guelleh received Hamdok on Wednesday, January 03, 2023

Full story: https://sudantribune.com/article280954/

____

Sudan Tribune - Wednesday, January 03, 2024 

Sudan’s deputy chairman brushes off Addis Ababa Declaration

Photo: Sudan's Deputy Chairman of the Sovereign Council, Malik Agar

Full story: https://sudantribune.com/article280947/

ENDS