Drone warfare and chemical weapons in Sudan

The conflict in Sudan has entered its fourth year, escalating beyond initial fears into ethnic cleansing, persecution of civilians, famine, and a humanitarian catastrophe. Despite several temporary ceasefires, they have typically been violated by Sudanese armed forces (SAF) and their opponents, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The involvement of international actors, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Russia, Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia, Libya, and the United Arab Emirates, has further complicated the situation. One of the dangers for Europe is the rise of extreme Islamism and terrorist organizations. Mass killings have occurred in Sudanese cities, particularly in Darfur. Last October was marked by the killing and displacement of residents in the city of El Fasher, located in the Darfur region. According to reports, at least 6,000 people were killed by RSF forces, with 26,000 others displaced. International humanitarian organizations, including the United Nations, estimate that over 60,000 people may have died, though only 6,000 deaths have been documented. El Fasher is one of many cities affected by such conditions; others include El Geneina, Ardamata, Kartum Bahri, Omdurman, and Wad Madani, where civilian populations have been expelled or driven from their homes. The RSF are largely composed of former members of the Janjaweed militia, which was responsible for mass killings in Darfur 26 years ago. A similar scenario is unfolding in El Obeid, located in the state of North Kordofan. Reports indicate massacres occurring in numbers comparable to those in El Fasher. While it is difficult to determine exactly what is happening around the city, the population has grown significantly due to refugees. The city, which had approximately 250,000 residents before the civil war, now has nearly half a million inhabitants, mostly refugees. Approximately 120,000 of these refugees live in nearby camps, while others remain scattered throughout the city. The civil war has reportedly claimed at least 100,000 lives, according to some estimates exceeding 200,000. This figure includes only those killed by weapons, but the number would be even higher if deaths from disease, lack of access to healthcare, and starvation are considered. The humanitarian crisis continues to worsen, with forced displacement, hunger, and persecution. In El Fasher, the conflict shows no mercy toward the innocent. A commander within the RSF, known as the “El Fasher leader” and referred to internally as Abu Lulu, is responsible for thousands of deaths, ranging from homes to universities. At the El Saudi Hospital, 460 patients were killed. Civilians fleeing were targeted on open fields by RSF forces. Women and girls aged seven to seventy from the Fur and Zaghawa communities were subjected to mass sexual violence. The military also inflicted casualties or persecuted civilians from both communities. Evidence includes RSF tactics aimed at denying food, medical care, and water access to civilians. Other tactics involve destroying and burning crops and trees, already scarce in Sudan. Preventing access to water has catastrophic consequences not only for civilians but also for livestock. Although the boundary between RSF and SAF remains similarly drawn, RSF controls western Sudan and parts of Khartoum, while SAF occupies the western areas. Both sides regularly commit war crimes. In Sudan, the conflict involves not only SAF and RSF but also the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-North). Since the start of the war, approximately 12 million people have been forcibly displaced from their homes. Air warfare is also taking place, with drones, helicopters, and homemade rockets used in attacks. SAF recently used Antonov aircraft to bomb villages near Am Dubib and Am Badr, detonating explosives directly onto grazing land, killing numerous children. This tactic recalls Bashar al-Assad's approach of bombing cities with barrel bombs.