Situation in Sudan (per 9 November)

  • Members of African ethnic groups, particularly Masalit, have been reportedly rounded up, attacked and killed in Darfur, by Arab militia and members associated with Rapid Support Forces (RSF), reports CNN based on obtained videos and images.
  • Geolocation shows that some video material appears to have been filmed in Ardamata, the outer district of El Geneina, which has been hosting a camp for internally displaced people.
  • Perpetrators used crude and insulting language, calling their hostages “dogs”. Other videos show physical abuse, whipping, and firing of shots from guns.
  • About 800 people are said to have been executed, according to sources known to AlJazeera.
  • RSF has denied that any ethnic cleansing has occurred in Ardamata.
  • Escalation of fighting has also been reported from Omdurman on Wednesday. Both aviation and ground combat have been reported from several neighbourhoods.
  • Medics at  Al-Nao Hospital in Omdurman confirmed to have received wounded as well as dead bodies.
  • Hasahisa camp for internally displaced persons in West Zalingei has been reportedly struck over 20 times by RSF shells and tanks since September, leaving  194 civilians injured and 66 dead, reports the AWAFY Sudanese Organization.
  • IDPs’ access to water points in Hasahisa have also been restricted.
  • There are further reports of killings, looting of IDP houses, kidnapping, and sexual violence since the RSF took over the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) headquarters in Zalingei at the end of October. 
  • The first round of peace talks in Jeddah has not brought any concrete agreement on a ceasefire. Jeddah talks are carried out under the auspices of Saudi Arabia, IGAD, African Union, and the United States. 
  • “SAF and RSF have committed to take steps to facilitate increased humanitarian assistance, and to implement confidence-building measures”, said the joint statement on commitments from Jeddah talks.
  • Both sides issued a separate list of humanitarian commitments which include, among others,  participation in a humanitarian forum led by UN OCHA, as well as establishing a safe route for movement of aid trucks from Port Sudan to and through Khartoum.

Refugee Situation (per 9 November)

  • Intensified fighting and roundups in Darfur caused a new wave of refugees fleeing to Chad, reports Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). About 7000 refugees arrived from Darfur in the first days of November.
  • “We have seen mothers and children who had to leave Sudan with nothing, as their homes were being destroyed”, said Stephanie Hoffmann, MSF outreach coordinator.
  • Refugees are crossing into Chad at a rate of some 700 people per day, said Dominique Hyde, UNHCR Director of External Relations.
  • The food aid for thousands of refugees in Chad is critically low.  The World Food Programme (WFP) urges for further support in order to provide one meal per day to refugees, said Pierre Honnorat, the head of the WFP in Chad.   
  • A sharp increase in refugee arrivals is also seen in Renk, South Sudan. Renk transit centre, originally built for 3,000 people, currently hosts 20,000 refugees, according to Hyde.

Situation in Ethiopia (per 9 November)

  • Clashes between the Fano militia and residents of Artuma Fursi district in the Oromia Special Zone of the Amhara region left 18 people dead and over 30 wounded, reports Addis Standard.
  • The fighting which occurred on Sunday reportedly started after Fano militia launched an attack in three villages of Artuma Fursi district with residents fighting back. An unknown number of militia men have also been killed amid fighting.
  • A second round of peace talks between Ethiopian government and the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) to end conflict in the Oromia region have reportedly commenced in Dar es Salaam in Tanzania on Tuesday. The First round was held in May.
  • The peace talks are supported by representatives of IGAD, the US Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, Mike Hammer, the government of Kenya and Norway.
  • In the past weeks, OLA representatives and government officials resumed a political dialogue which appeared to have brought a  “positive outcome”, according to Addis Standard.
  • A new wave of fighting between Fano militia and the Ethiopian army in Lalibela raised concern over preservation of the rock-hewn churches.
  • Fighting and heavy weapons were heard over the last weekend. The Ethiopian army has reportedly been stationed close to Lalibera airport.

Situation in Tigray (per 9 November)

  • The Tigray Interim Administration (TIA) lacks a mandate to carry out the referendum in the disputed areas, said Getachew Reda, head of interim administration, in his talk on the first anniversary of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement.
  • Recalling the constitution, Reda said that the referendum can take place only in case the regional council would agree to it in accordance with the approval from the House of Federation. Currently,  “there is no regional council to speak of in Tigray”, added Getachew.
  • 80% of industrial workers and 70% of service workers in Tigray are out of work due to destruction and damage caused by war, according to an investigative commission established by the Interim Administration.
  • TIA has removed 4 officials from their positions. Previously six top zonal officials were removed from the office for what the administration said was failure to fulfil their responsibilities.
  • Two of the newly dismissed officials stated that they have not been informed about the decision through official means but  learned about the dismissal through social media.

Regional Situation (per 9 November)

  • Egypt and South Sudan requested to be included in the Sudan peace talks that are currently ongoing in Jeddah.

Links of interest

Disturbing videos emerge showing atrocities against African ethnic groups in Darfur

Sudan’s RSF closes in on capturing all of Darfur

Sudan conflict: Thousands flee fresh ethnic killings in Darfur

Sudan’s military rivals escalate clashes in Omdurman

Joint Statement on Commitments from Jeddah Talks Between Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces

More people forced to flee Sudan to Chad as fighting intensifies across Darfur

An unimaginable humanitarian crisis is unfolding in Sudan

Urgent Hasahisa Security Reports

News: Clashes between militiamen and armed residents left at least 18 killed in Oromo special zone, Amhara region

Update: US, IGAD, Kenya & Norway key peace talk facilitators; OLA southern command chief arrives in Dar es Salaam

Fighting in Ethiopia’s Amhara region prompts fear for ancient churches

President Getachew Reda on the First-Anniversary of the Pretoria Peace Agreement

በትግራይ ክልል 80 በመቶ የኢንዲስትሪዎችና የአገልግሎት ሠራተኞች ከሥራ ውጪ መሆናቸው ተገለጸ

News: Tigray interim admin sacks four more high-ranking officials

Office of the President-Tigray

Egypt, South Sudan seek inclusion in Sudan conflict resolution efforts

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