标签： Africa

In a significant escalation of Sudan’s ongoing conflict, paramilitary forces known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have captured a crucial military base in el-Fasher, the last stronghold of the Sudanese army in the Darfur region. This development, reported by activists and aid groups on Monday, marks a turning point in the war that has ravaged the country since April 2023. The RSF’s advance has resulted in widespread civilian casualties, destruction of health infrastructure, and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people. Medical groups reported dozens of deaths, though exact casualty figures remain unclear. El-Fasher, the provincial capital of North Darfur, has been a focal point of the conflict for over a year, with its fall potentially signaling a dangerous new phase in the war. The RSF, which originated from the notorious Janjaweed militias, has been accused of systematic targeting of civilians, arbitrary detentions, and acts amounting to war crimes. Satellite imagery analyzed by The Associated Press and the Humanitarian Research Lab at Yale University confirmed the RSF’s advance and the damage inflicted on the military base. The United Nations has expressed deep alarm over the humanitarian crisis, with hundreds of thousands of civilians trapped in dire conditions. The conflict has already claimed over 40,000 lives and displaced more than 14 million people, creating the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. The International Criminal Court is investigating alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the region.

The Sudanese city of el-Fasher has become the epicenter of a deepening humanitarian crisis as paramilitary forces, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), claim control over the army’s main base in the region. Despite the RSF’s declaration, Sudan’s military has yet to acknowledge the loss of this strategic stronghold, which would mark a significant turning point in the ongoing civil war. El-Fasher, the last remaining army foothold in Darfur, has been under siege by the RSF and its allies for 18 months, with intense fighting erupting since Saturday after the RSF captured the North Darfur governor’s residence. Verified social media footage shows RSF fighters celebrating their alleged victory, though local army allies report that clashes persist in parts of the city. The RSF has been accused of targeting civilians in airstrikes and trapping nearly 250,000 people by encircling the city with an earth wall, leaving many on the brink of starvation. The United Nations has described el-Fasher as an ‘epicenter of suffering,’ with UN humanitarian official Tom Fletcher expressing deep alarm over civilian casualties and the dire conditions faced by those trapped. Fletcher emphasized the urgent need for safe passage and access to aid for civilians, a call echoed by the United States, which is actively seeking to broker a ceasefire. The capture of el-Fasher would represent a crucial comeback for the RSF following their defeat in Khartoum, but it also signals the likelihood of prolonged conflict rather than resolution. Since 2023, Sudan has been engulfed in a devastating power struggle between the RSF and the Sudanese army, resulting in over 150,000 deaths and displacing approximately 12 million people. The army retains control over much of the north and east, while the RSF dominates Darfur and large parts of Kordofan. The RSF has previously expressed ambitions to establish a rival government in el-Fasher, further complicating the path to peace. As the crisis deepens, the international community continues to call for immediate action to alleviate the suffering of civilians caught in the crossfire.

Mali has been plunged into a deepening crisis as schools and universities across the nation have been forced to suspend operations due to a severe fuel shortage. The disruption stems from a blockade on fuel imports imposed by Islamist insurgents, who have targeted tankers on major highways. Education Minister Amadou Sy Savane announced the suspension on state television, stating that all educational institutions will remain closed until November 9. The decision was made to address the logistical challenges faced by staff and students in commuting amid the fuel scarcity. The government has assured the public that it is working tirelessly to resolve the crisis and resume classes by November 10. The capital, Bamako, has been particularly hard-hit, with long queues forming at petrol stations and the city’s bustling streets now eerily quiet. Mali, a landlocked country, relies entirely on fuel imports from neighboring nations such as Senegal and Ivory Coast, making it vulnerable to such blockades. The military government, led by General Assimi Goïta, has struggled to contain the crisis despite earlier assurances that the fuel shortage was temporary. The situation has escalated to the point where the US Embassy in Bamako has evacuated non-essential diplomatic staff and their families, citing worsening fuel shortages and heightened security concerns. The embassy warned that the fuel disruptions could lead to unpredictable security challenges and have already impacted electricity supplies. Mali’s ongoing instability is rooted in a complex history of insurgency, with Islamist militants gaining control over large swathes of the north and east. The military junta, which seized power in a 2021 coup, initially enjoyed popular support for its promises to address the security crisis. However, the withdrawal of UN peacekeeping forces and French troops has left the government reliant on Russian mercenaries to combat the insurgency, with limited success. The current fuel blockade underscores the persistent threat posed by jihadist groups and the broader challenges facing Mali’s fragile governance.

Mali has taken the drastic step of closing all schools and universities across the country starting Sunday, as a severe fuel scarcity triggered by a blockade on fuel imports by jihadi militants continues to cripple daily life. Education Minister Amadou Sy Savane announced the suspension of classes for two weeks on state television, citing disruptions in fuel supplies that have severely impacted the mobility of school staff. The blockade, imposed by the al-Qaida-affiliated Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin group in early September, has left hundreds of fuel trucks stranded at Mali’s borders, exacerbating the landlocked nation’s already fragile economy. The crisis has led to long queues at gas stations in the capital, Bamako, and driven up the prices of essential commodities and transportation. Mali, along with neighboring Burkina Faso and Niger, has been grappling with an insurgency involving armed groups linked to al-Qaida, the Islamic State, and local rebels. Following military coups in all three nations in recent years, French forces have been expelled, and Russian mercenary units have been enlisted for security assistance, though analysts argue this has done little to improve the situation. The Malian military junta, which seized power in 2020, has attempted to escort fuel trucks from border areas to Bamako, but some convoys have been attacked by militants. The education minister assured that authorities are working tirelessly to restore fuel supplies before schools reopen on November 10.