Latest news with #Massalit
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Twenty years on, Darfur is facing hell on earth once more
The attackers came from all sides, with machine guns mounted on the beds of their pickup trucks. Their target: the Samsam refugee camp in Sudan's North Darfur state. Panic broke out in the camp, which was home to between 500,000 and 1 million internally displaced people, according to different estimates. The attackers were fighters from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia, the very group the refugees had fled from. Refugees like Mohamed, who does not wish to disclose his full name, experienced horrific events. "Older people who couldn't flee quickly enough were burned alive in their huts. Children were dragged out of hiding and killed," Mohamed reported by phone from Al-Fashir, the capital of North Darfur. He said the RSF abused and racially insulted their victims. Aid workers were executed on the spot. Mohamed's statements cannot be independently verified, but observers and aid organizations on the ground confirm the violent deaths of staff from the humanitarian organization Relief International. According to UNICEF, at least 23 children were killed. Reports indicate those killed numbered at least 129, possibly several hundred. Violence in Darfur has deep roots Sudan has been embroiled in a civil war for more than two years between the RSF militia, led by Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, and the government forces of Sudan's de facto leader Abdel-Fattah al-Burhan. The two generals originally seized power together in 2021 and are now fighting each other. Multiple diplomatic efforts to broker a ceasefire and launch peace negotiations have failed. However, the roots of the violence in Darfur go back further, to conflicts between Arab nomads and African farmers over resources such as water and land. Twenty years ago, Arab militias on horseback, some of whom later became part of the RSF, attacked villages belonging to African ethnic groups such as the Massalit, Zaghawa, and Fur. Thousands of villages were destroyed, and there were widespread reports of sexual violence and massacres. In 2004, then-US secretary of state Colin Powell described the events in Darfur as genocide. In 2010, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an international arrest warrant for Sudan's then-president Omar al-Bashir for crimes against humanity in Darfur. Unlike today, Darfur received international attention at the time, with Hollywood stars such as George Clooney, Angelina Jolie and Mia Farrow making public appeals to "Save Darfur." History repeating itself? Now, history seems to be repeating itself. As early as summer 2023, there were reports of massacres targeting the Massalit ethnic group in West Darfur. Human rights groups have since repeatedly accused the RSF of torture, mass rapes and other crimes. Since the attack on Samsam in mid-April, there have been daily reports of dozens of deaths from shelling in Al-Fashir and surrounding villages. Al-Fashir, the last major city under government control and besieged by the RSF for a year, is of strategic importance. If the RSF captures Al-Fashir, they would control all of Darfur and could implement their plans to establish a parallel government there. Amnesty International demands action While many flee, those still in Sudan face "killings, summary executions, injury, rape, gang-rape, sexual slavery and other forms of sexual violence, torture and enforced disappearances and widespread looting – all amounting to war crimes and some of which may also amount to crimes against humanity," Amnesty International wrote in an appeal to the European Union to act. "Children have been caught in the crossfire of aerial bombardments and shelling, resulting in numerous casualties and impacting severely on their safety, education and well-being." Since the start of the war, access to independent and reliable information has been under pressure as journalists are targeted by both parties with (death) threats, violence and attacks, Amnesty noted in its open letter. Media infrastructure, including offices and equipment, has been looted, burned and deliberately destroyed. "Ethnically motivated killing, forced displacement and sexual violence by both parties have re-emerged, raising alarming parallels to the Darfur crisis of 2003-2005, when mass atrocities were committed against ethnic communities." The resurgence of these tactics heightens the risk of a return to the darkest days of Sudan's wars, when systematic ethnic cleansing and war crimes devastated entire communities. "Diplomatic efforts have failed to bring a change in the behaviour of the warring parties or end the violations," the NGO noted, adding Washington's suspension of foreign aid only amplified the "urgency for robust and timely diplomatic action." Meanwhile, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) reports that sexual violence has become so widespread in the Darfur region that many people chillingly speak about it as unavoidable. "Women and girls do not feel safe anywhere. They are attacked in their own homes, when fleeing violence, getting food, collecting firewood, working in the fields. They tell us they feel trapped," MSF emergency coordinator Claire San Filippo says. "These attacks are heinous and cruel, often involving multiple perpetrators. This must stop."
Japan Times
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Japan Times
'No one else will': Sudan's journalists risk all to report the war
On a mountain near Sudan's border, journalists climb rugged slopes, phones held high, hoping to catch a faint signal from neighboring Chad to send stories amid the war's two-year communications blackout. Journalists say efforts like these are their only way to tell the world about the horrors unfolding in Darfur, where accounts of sexual violence, ethnic massacres and mass displacement continue to emerge. Since fighting erupted between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in April 2023, at least 28 reporters have been killed, according to Sudan's journalist union. Dozens more have been detained and tortured, while many have been displaced and cut off from electricity, water and internet. Noon, a 35-year-old freelance journalist who requested a pseudonym for her safety, said she was forced to flee the West Darfur capital of El-Geneina after reporting on ethnically motivated mass killings committed by the RSF and its allied militias in 2023. Her stories on the massacres, where U.N. experts say up to 15,000 mostly Massalit people were killed — leading to genocide accusations against the RSF — made her a target. "They raided my family's house. They took all my equipment, my cameras, everything," she said. Debris blocking a road in a southern neighborhood of Khartoum last month, after the military recaptured the capital | AFP-Jiji By the third raid, she knew she had to go, and fled with her family to the eastern state of Gedaref, nearly 1,800 kilometers (1120 miles) away. But even there, she was not safe. While reporting in a displacement shelter, she said she was arrested by the army, accused of collaborating with the RSF and forced to sign a pledge to obtain government approval on every story. According to Reporters Without Borders, since the start of the war more than 400 journalists have fled the country, which last year was second only to Gaza in the Committee to Protect Journalists' tally of reporters killed. Yet some remain on the ground, working in secret with nothing to their name. In the North Darfur town of Tawila, where the U.N. says 180,000 survivors of nearby RSF attacks are sheltering, 30-year-old photojournalist Ibrahim works undercover to report on those trapped between famine and brutal violence. "No one can know what I do," said Ibrahim, who asked to use a pseudonym to protect his identity. "If they find out, they'll arrest me or take my phone," he said. People displaced following Rapid Support Forces (RSF) attacks on Zamzam displacement camp shelter in the town of Tawila, North Darfur, Sudan, on April 15 | REUTERS Last July, RSF fighters detained him in El-Fasher and accused him of being an army spy. He said they tortured him for five days and confiscated his equipment, documents and money. Since then, he has sent his family out of Darfur and relocated to Tawila, leaving his cameras behind. His mobile phone is all he has left. Even before the war, Sudan was a hostile environment for journalists, consistently ranking near the bottom of the Reporters Without Borders's Press Freedom Index. Since the fighting began, conditions have only worsened. Many journalists have been forced to flee, while others remain trapped across the country, struggling to survive. In the central state of Al-Jazira, the country's breadbasket prior to the war, veteran reporter Youssef, 62, now raises goats and grows sorghum to support himself. "The last salary I received was at the beginning of 2024," he said by phone from state capital Wad Madani. "My newspaper moved operations to Cairo, but I still send them reports — when I can get a signal." Youssef, whose name has also been changed, lost all contact with his editors and the outside world for months while the RSF controlled the city. In February 2024, fighters stormed his home. "They tied my hands, blindfolded me, shackled my feet," he recalled. "No food. No toilets. I was detained for three days." He said when he told those interrogating him he was a journalist, a fighter said: "That is the biggest crime." He was freed only after a local community leader signed a guarantee pledging that Youssef would remain under house arrest. He did not leave until the army recaptured Wad Madani in January. Both Youssef and Ibrahim say they have received no protection from local or international media organizations. Still, Ibrahim continues, turning a coffee shop in Tawila — powered by a single public solar panel — into a makeshift newsroom. "Who else will tell the world what's happening in Darfur if we leave?" he asked, crouching to reach his phone, plugged into an overloaded extension cord. "No one else will tell these stories. No one can imagine the atrocities happening here."
Arab News
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
‘No one else will': Sudan's journalists risk all to report the war
CAIRO: On a mountain near Sudan's border, journalists climb rugged slopes, phones held high, hoping to catch a faint signal from neighboring Chad to send stories amid the war's two-year communications say efforts like these are their only way to tell the world about the horrors unfolding in Darfur, where accounts of sexual violence, ethnic massacres and mass displacement continue to fighting erupted between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in April 2023, at least 28 reporters have been killed, according to Sudan's journalist more have been detained and tortured, while many have been displaced and cut off from electricity, water and a 35-year-old freelance journalist who requested a pseudonym for her safety, said she was forced to flee the West Darfur capital of El-Geneina after reporting on ethnically motivated mass killings committed by the RSF and its allied militias in stories on the massacres, where UN experts say up to 15,000 mostly Massalit people were killed — leading to genocide accusations against the RSF — made her a target.'They raided my family's house. They took all my equipment, my cameras, everything,' she the third raid, she knew she had to go, and fled with her family to the eastern state of Gedaref, nearly 1,800 kilometers (1120 miles) even there, she was not reporting in a displacement shelter, she said she was arrested by the army, accused of collaborating with the RSF and forced to sign a pledge to obtain government approval on every to Reporters Without Borders, since the start of the war more than 400 journalists have fled the country, which last year was second only to Gaza in the Committee to Protect Journalists' tally of reporters some remain on the ground, working in secret with nothing to their the North Darfur town of Tawila, where the UN says 180,000 survivors of nearby RSF attacks are sheltering, 30-year-old photojournalist Ibrahim works undercover to report on those trapped between famine and brutal violence.'No one can know what I do,' Ibrahim, who asked to use a pseudonym to protect his identity, told AFP.'If they find out, they'll arrest me or take my phone,' he July, RSF fighters detained him in El-Fasher and accused him of being an army spy. He said they tortured him for five days and confiscated his equipment, documents and then, he has sent his family out of Darfur and relocated to Tawila, leaving his cameras behind. His mobile phone is all he has before the war, Sudan was a hostile environment for journalists, consistently ranking near the bottom of the Reporters Without Borders's Press Freedom the fighting began, conditions have only worsened. Many journalists have been forced to flee, while others remain trapped across the country, struggling to the central state of Al-Jazira, the country's breadbasket prior to the war, veteran reporter Youssef, 62, now raises goats and grows sorghum to support himself.'The last salary I received was at the beginning of 2024,' he told AFP by phone from state capital Wad Madani.'My newspaper moved operations to Cairo, but I still send them reports — when I can get a signal.'Youssef, whose name has also been changed, lost all contact with his editors and the outside world for months while the RSF controlled the February 2024, fighters stormed his home.'They tied my hands, blindfolded me, shackled my feet,' he recalled. 'No food. No toilets. I was detained for three days.'He said when he told those interrogating him he was a journalist, a fighter said: 'That is the biggest crime.'He was freed only after a local community leader signed a guarantee pledging that Youssef would remain under house arrest. He did not leave until the army recaptured Wad Madani in Youssef and Ibrahim say they have received no protection from local or international media Ibrahim continues, turning a coffee shop in Tawila — powered by a single public solar panel — into a makeshift newsroom.'Who else will tell the world what's happening in Darfur if we leave?' he told AFP, crouching to reach his phone, plugged into an overloaded extension cord.'No one else will tell these stories. No one can imagine the atrocities happening here.'
New Straits Times
23-04-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
'No one else will': Sudan's journalists risk all to report war
ON a mountain near Sudan's border, journalists climb rugged slopes, phones held high, hoping to catch a faint signal from neighbouring Chad to send stories amid the war's two-year communications blackout. Journalists say efforts like these are their only way to tell the world about the horrors unfolding in Darfur, where accounts of sexual violence, ethnic massacres and mass displacement continue to emerge. Since fighting erupted between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in April 2023, at least 28 reporters have been killed, according to Sudan's journalist union. Dozens more have been detained and tortured, while many have been displaced and cut off from electricity, water and internet. Noon, a 35-year-old freelance journalist who requested a pseudonym for her safety, said she was forced to flee the West Darfur capital of El-Geneina after reporting on ethnically motivated mass killings committed by the RSF and its allied militias in 2023. Her stories on the massacres, where UN experts say up to 15,000 mostly Massalit people were killed – leading to genocide accusations against the RSF – made her a target. "They raided my family's house. They took all my equipment, my cameras, everything," she said. By the third raid, she knew she had to go, and fled with her family to the eastern state of Gedaref, nearly 1,800 kilometres (1120 miles) away. But even there, she was not safe. While reporting in a displacement shelter, she said she was arrested by the army, accused of collaborating with the RSF and forced to sign a pledge to obtain government approval on every story. According to Reporters Without Borders, since the start of the war more than 400 journalists have fled the country, which last year was second only to Gaza in the Committee to Protect Journalists' tally of reporters killed. Yet some remain on the ground, working in secret with nothing to their name. In the North Darfur town of Tawila, where the UN says 180,000 survivors of nearby RSF attacks are sheltering, 30-year-old photojournalist Ibrahim works undercover to report on those trapped between famine and brutal violence. "No one can know what I do," Ibrahim, who asked to use a pseudonym to protect his identity, told AFP. "If they find out, they'll arrest me or take my phone," he said. pqc Last July, RSF fighters detained him in El-Fasher and accused him of being an army spy. He said they tortured him for five days and confiscated his equipment, documents and money. Since then, he has sent his family out of Darfur and relocated to Tawila, leaving his cameras behind. His mobile phone is all he has left. Even before the war, Sudan was a hostile environment for journalists, consistently ranking near the bottom of the Reporters Without Borders's Press Freedom Index. Since the fighting began, conditions have only worsened. Many journalists have been forced to flee, while others remain trapped across the country, struggling to survive. In the central state of Al-Jazira, the country's breadbasket prior to the war, veteran reporter Youssef, 62, now raises goats and grows sorghum to support himself. "The last salary I received was at the beginning of 2024," he told AFP by phone from state capital Wad Madani. "My newspaper moved operations to Cairo, but I still send them reports – when I can get a signal." Youssef, whose name has also been changed, lost all contact with his editors and the outside world for months while the RSF controlled the city. In February 2024, fighters stormed his home. "They tied my hands, blindfolded me, shackled my feet," he recalled. "No food. No toilets. I was detained for three days." He said when he told those interrogating him he was a journalist, a fighter said: "That is the biggest crime." He was freed only after a local community leader signed a guarantee pledging that Youssef would remain under house arrest. He did not leave until the army recaptured Wad Madani in January. Both Youssef and Ibrahim say they have received no protection from local or international media organisations. Still, Ibrahim continues, turning a coffee shop in Tawila – powered by a single public solar panel – into a makeshift newsroom. "Who else will tell the world what's happening in Darfur if we leave?" he told AFP, crouching to reach his phone, plugged into an overloaded extension cord. "No one else will tell these stories. No one can imagine the atrocities happening here."
Int'l Business Times
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Int'l Business Times
'No One Else Will': Sudan's Journalists Risk All To Report The War
On a mountain near Sudan's border, journalists climb rugged slopes, phones held high, hoping to catch a faint signal from neighbouring Chad to send stories amid the war's two-year communications blackout. Journalists say efforts like these are their only way to tell the world about the horrors unfolding in Darfur, where accounts of sexual violence, ethnic massacres and mass displacement continue to emerge. Since fighting erupted between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in April 2023, at least 28 reporters have been killed, according to Sudan's journalist union. Dozens more have been detained and tortured, while many have been displaced and cut off from electricity, water and internet. Noon, a 35-year-old freelance journalist who requested a pseudonym for her safety, said she was forced to flee the West Darfur capital of El-Geneina after reporting on ethnically motivated mass killings committed by the RSF and its allied militias in 2023. Her stories on the massacres, where UN experts say up to 15,000 mostly Massalit people were killed -- leading to genocide accusations against the RSF -- made her a target. "They raided my family's house. They took all my equipment, my cameras, everything," she said. By the third raid, she knew she had to go, and fled with her family to the eastern state of Gedaref, nearly 1,800 kilometres (1120 miles) away. But even there, she was not safe. While reporting in a displacement shelter, she said she was arrested by the army, accused of collaborating with the RSF and forced to sign a pledge to obtain government approval on every story. According to Reporters Without Borders, since the start of the war more than 400 journalists have fled the country, which last year was second only to Gaza in the Committee to Protect Journalists' tally of reporters killed. Yet some remain on the ground, working in secret with nothing to their name. In the North Darfur town of Tawila, where the UN says 180,000 survivors of nearby RSF attacks are sheltering, 30-year-old photojournalist Ibrahim works undercover to report on those trapped between famine and brutal violence. "No one can know what I do," Ibrahim, who asked to use a pseudonym to protect his identity, told AFP. "If they find out, they'll arrest me or take my phone," he said. Last July, RSF fighters detained him in El-Fasher and accused him of being an army spy. He said they tortured him for five days and confiscated his equipment, documents and money. Since then, he has sent his family out of Darfur and relocated to Tawila, leaving his cameras behind. His mobile phone is all he has left. Even before the war, Sudan was a hostile environment for journalists, consistently ranking near the bottom of the Reporters Without Borders's Press Freedom Index. Since the fighting began, conditions have only worsened. Many journalists have been forced to flee, while others remain trapped across the country, struggling to survive. In the central state of Al-Jazira, the country's breadbasket prior to the war, veteran reporter Youssef, 62, now raises goats and grows sorghum to support himself. "The last salary I received was at the beginning of 2024," he told AFP by phone from state capital Wad Madani. "My newspaper moved operations to Cairo, but I still send them reports -- when I can get a signal." Youssef, whose name has also been changed, lost all contact with his editors and the outside world for months while the RSF controlled the city. In February 2024, fighters stormed his home. "They tied my hands, blindfolded me, shackled my feet," he recalled. "No food. No toilets. I was detained for three days." He said when he told those interrogating him he was a journalist, a fighter said: "That is the biggest crime." He was freed only after a local community leader signed a guarantee pledging that Youssef would remain under house arrest. He did not leave until the army recaptured Wad Madani in January. Both Youssef and Ibrahim say they have received no protection from local or international media organisations. Still, Ibrahim continues, turning a coffee shop in Tawila -- powered by a single public solar panel -- into a makeshift newsroom. "Who else will tell the world what's happening in Darfur if we leave?" he told AFP, crouching to reach his phone, plugged into an overloaded extension cord. "No one else will tell these stories. No one can imagine the atrocities happening here."
