Darfur can be “next battlefield” of conflict in Sudan

The Darfur region in western Sudan may be the next “conflict battlefield” and, consequently, the origin of a new country.

According to investigators from the Security Studies Institute (ISS), the Darfur region covers five Sudanese states and « is important in the conflict that cannot be underestimated. »

The force that has been opposed to the Sudanese government for two years – the paramilitaries of the rapid support forces (RSF, in the English acronym) – controls most of Darfur and « it is likely that the region will be the next border and battlefield of the conflict. »

« The RSF captured some of the capitals of the states of Darfur early in the war, except Al-Fashion, but recent gains from the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) in the capital, Cartum, will be able to incur them to expand their military expedition to the west, » said researcher Maram Mahdi.

For his part, the investigator Moses Chrispus Okello explained that Darfur is ethnically different from the rest of the country, consisting in particular by the Massalit people, allegedly the target of genocide by the RSF.

« Darfur has huge deposits of oil and gold, which has been in the interest of Russia and the United Arab Emirates, » he said. With the RSF preparing to declare a parallel government in the country, “at least two administrations to govern Sudan,” he said.

« I say ‘at least’, because there are groups in the Darfur area that expressed interest in a separation, » explained the investigator, to whom this idea « is not unprecedented », since South Sudan « was created from a division of Sudan. »

According to the United Nations data, the conflict that broke out on April 15, 2023 among the Army, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhane, the country’s factual ruler since a 2021 coup, and his former deputy, General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, head of the RSF.

The war has already placed about 30 million Sudanese – representing two out of three people – needing humanitarian aid, at a time when international funds available for this purpose are being reduced in all sectors.

The World Health Organization also warned that 3.7 million Sudanese are affected by malnutrition.