Sudan War Causes Dire Humanitarian Crisis in Darfur

Minni Arcua Minawi (Archive photo)
Minni Arcua Minawi (Archive photo)
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Sudan War Causes Dire Humanitarian Crisis in Darfur

Minni Arcua Minawi (Archive photo)
Minni Arcua Minawi (Archive photo)

The scope of the war in Sudan expanded, with battles reaching two major cities: Al-Fashir, the capital of North Darfur state, and Al-Fula, the capital of West Kordofan state bordering Darfur.

These developments exacerbated fears about the fate of the hundreds of thousands of displaced, who had fled to these regions, escaping violence, prompting many camp residents to launch distress calls for the international community to intervene and save the people.

Since the outbreak of battles on April 15, between the Sudanese Army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the Darfur region, along with the capital, Khartoum, have witnessed the worst acts of violence.

On Thursday night, fighting resumed in Al-Fashir, ending a two-month break in the densely populated city, which had been a haven for the Sudanese from the bombing, looting, rape and arbitrary executions seen in other parts of Darfur.

Al-Fashir is the center of the largest concentration of displaced civilians in Darfur, with 600,000 people seeking refuge there in recent months. Witnesses also reported hostilities in Al-Fula, where the conflict has already spread to North Kordofan, a trade and transport hub between Khartoum and parts of southern and western Sudan.

A spokesman for the Darfur regional government, Mustafa Jamil, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the humanitarian situation was dire in the cities of El Geneina and Nyala, adding that the infrastructure, markets and shops have been largely destroyed.

“Three of the states of the Darfur region have suffered from war, and have been affected by large killings, destruction and displacement, namely: West Darfur, South Darfur, and Central Darfur, while the states of North Darfur and East Darfur are witnessing a state of relative stability,” Jamil said, adding: “The effects of the war have spread to all the region, and the displaced have arrived in safe areas, but there are humanitarian repercussions.”

The Darfur region consists of five states. Its central government is headed by Minni Arcua Minawi, the leader of the Sudan Liberation Movement.



Houthi Charges of Espionage: A Tool to Intimidate, Control the Population

Houthis demonstrate in the center of the capital Sanaa against American and British strikes on their positions. (AP)
Houthis demonstrate in the center of the capital Sanaa against American and British strikes on their positions. (AP)
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Houthi Charges of Espionage: A Tool to Intimidate, Control the Population

Houthis demonstrate in the center of the capital Sanaa against American and British strikes on their positions. (AP)
Houthis demonstrate in the center of the capital Sanaa against American and British strikes on their positions. (AP)

The Houthi militia has recently released several individuals it had abducted for celebrating Yemen’s September Revolution. However, over the past few days, it has detained hundreds of residents in its stronghold of Saada, accusing them of espionage.

The campaign coincides with the airing of alleged confessions from a purported spy cell and the abduction of a former employee of the US Embassy in Yemen.

Local sources in Saada province, approximately 242 kilometers north of Sanaa, report that the Houthis have launched a widespread campaign of arrests targeting civilians. These individuals have been taken from their homes, workplaces, and businesses under allegations of collaborating with Western nations and Israel. Families of those detained have been warned to remain silent and refrain from discussing the arrests with the media or on social media platforms.

According to the sources, more than 300 individuals, including dozens of women, have been abducted across various districts in Saada. The arrests have also targeted relatives and associates of Othman Mujalli, a member of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, who hails from the region.

The sources suggest that the Houthis are detaining women as hostages to pressure their relatives, who may either be out of the militia’s reach or living outside Houthi-controlled areas. They also appear to be using the women to coerce confessions from male relatives. Last month, the Houthis accused Hamid Mujalli, Othman Mujalli’s brother, of engaging in espionage for Arab and Western nations for nearly two decades.

In a separate incident, the Houthis abducted a former employee of the US Embassy in Sanaa from his home on Monday without providing any explanation for their actions.

Release of Detainees

The Houthis recently released Sheikh Amin Rajeh, a tribal leader from Ibb province, after detaining him for four months. Several other individuals were also freed, none of whom had been formally charged during their detention. Rajeh, a member of the General People’s Congress Party, was one of many political activists, students, workers, and public employees abducted in September for celebrating Yemen’s September 26, 1962, revolution.

One of the released individuals, a shop owner, told Asharq Al-Awsat that he was unaware of the reason for his detention. He had been abducted in November, two months after the Houthis initiated a crackdown on those commemorating the revolution.

Alleged Spy Cell

Houthi-controlled media recently broadcast confessions from what they claimed was a newly uncovered spy cell. The group linked the cell to its broader narrative of “promised conquest and sacred jihad” against the West and Israel.

According to Houthi security officials, the alleged spy cell was working to compile a “target database,” monitor sites linked to missile forces and drones, and track specific military and security locations. They also claimed the cell had been observing the residences and movements of Houthi leaders.

In response, the Houthis issued warnings to residents, forbidding them from discussing or sharing information about militia-controlled sites, facilities, or the whereabouts of their leaders.

The Houthis’ actions reflect mounting concerns over potential strikes targeting their senior leadership, similar to the recent attacks on Hezbollah figures in Lebanon. Those fears come amid ongoing tensions with Israel, the United States, and the United Kingdom, following the Houthis’ assaults on international shipping lanes in the Red Sea and missile attacks on Israel.