A paramilitary attack in central Sudan has killed at least 14 people, according to reports from a local resistance committee, marking another deadly incident in the country’s nearly year-long civil war. The assault reportedly targeted the village of Umm Adam in the Gezira state, an area previously considered a safe haven but now contested by warring factions.
The conflict, which erupted in April 2023, pits the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commanded by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. Both factions had previously united to seize power in a 2021 coup before turning against each other. The fighting has primarily devastated the capital Khartoum and the western Darfur region, but has increasingly spread to other parts of the country, including central agricultural areas vital for food production.
‘We are witnessing a deliberate campaign to terrorize civilians and seize control of resources,’ a source from a Sudanese humanitarian organization told journalists, requesting anonymity due to security concerns. ‘Attacks on villages like Umm Adam displace communities and deepen the famine threatening millions.’
International analysts note the strategic significance of Gezira state, home to Sudan’s largest irrigation scheme. ‘Control of Gezira is not just about territory; it’s about controlling breadbaskets and population centers,’ said a regional security analyst familiar with the conflict. The RSF has recently made significant advances in the region, forcing the SAF to retreat from its former stronghold in Wad Madani last December.
The implications of the ongoing violence are stark. Over 8 million people have been displaced, creating one of the world’s worst humanitarian disasters. With peace talks stalled and neither side demonstrating a decisive military advantage, experts warn the conflict risks further fragmentation of Sudan and increased instability across the Horn of Africa.