In besieged Sudan city, civilians face death if they try to escape

"In January 2024, Ahmed Abubakr Imam picked up a rifle to defend his community. The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) had just captured four of the five provinces in Sudan's sprawling western region of Darfur South, East, Central and West in a lightning attack as it advanced in its war against the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and its allies. list of 3 itemsend of list It was now threatening to capture North Darfur, leaving thousands of people like Imam terrified."

"He knew that the largely nomadic often referred to as Arab RSF was notorious for abducting and raping women and girls and extrajudicially killing men and boys from predominantly sedentary non-Arab communities. Like thousands of non-Arabs in North Darfur, Imam joined the Popular Resistance, which are neighbourhood defence groups backed by the SAF. The RSF militia clearly doesn't distinguish between civilians and fighters, the 27-year-old told Al Jazeera."

"Since an all-out civil war erupted between the SAF and the RSF in April 2023, the latter has nearly consolidated control over its stronghold in Darfur. Both sides have committed grave abuses, yet the RSF is implicated in additional atrocities such as genocide and systematic sexual violence, according to United Nations experts and local and international monitors. In April 2024, the RSF imposed a crippling siege on North Darfur's capital el-Fasher, where some 260,000 people are languishing and withering away from hunger."

In January 2024 Ahmed Abubakr Imam took up a rifle after the RSF captured four of Darfur's five provinces and advanced toward North Darfur. The largely nomadic, often described as Arab, RSF is accused of abducting and raping women and girls and extrajudicially killing men and boys from sedentary non‑Arab communities. Thousands of non‑Arabs in North Darfur joined Popular Resistance defence groups backed by the SAF. Since April 2023 the RSF has nearly consolidated control in Darfur and is implicated in atrocities including genocide and sexual violence, according to United Nations experts and monitors. In April 2024 the RSF besieged el‑Fasher, causing hunger, extortion, detention and killings; many escapees head to cholera‑hit Tawila.

Read at www.aljazeera.com