Attack in Darfur, Sudan: Five security forces dead

Police stated in a statement on Friday that five members of the Sudanese security forces were killed in an ambush by a "illegal" armed organization in the unrest-ridden Darfur area.

The statement did not name the organization but stated that "an illegal group in Central Darfur state came under treacherous attack yesterday evening against a unified security unit comprising the armed forces, police, and the Rapid Support Forces."

Five security forces, including a police lieutenant, were slain in the incident, it added, adding that other casualties were unknown.

If any of the attackers were hurt, it wasn't immediately apparent.

Since a military takeover in October of last year, led by army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, Sudan has been suffering from escalating turmoil.

A fragile transition that had been in place after the ousting of longstanding president Omar al-Bashir in 2019 was interrupted by the action, which removed important civilian groups from positions of authority.

The attempt to seize control of the government worsened the political and economic unrest in the nation, and ethnic violence have increased in Sudan's remote regions.

Burhan promised to stand down last month to allow civilian organizations to create a new government, but the largest civilian bloc branded the promise a "ruse."

Since the coup, violent violence has been occurring in Sudan's westernmost province of Darfur.

According to the UN, fighting between Arab and non-Arab factions in West Darfur state resulted in the deaths of over 125 individuals in June.

In 2003, ethnic minority insurgents in Darfur clashed with Bashir's Arab-dominated administration over allegations of discrimination.

The Janjaweed, who were mostly drawn from Arab pastoralist tribes, were then let loose by Khartoum and were held accountable for crimes including murder, rape, looting, and village burning.

According to the United Nations, the scorched-earth campaign resulted in 300,000 fatalities and 2.5 million displaced people.

According to rights organizations, many Janjaweed have since been incorporated into the dreaded paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which are now under the de facto direction of General Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, the de facto deputy leader of Sudan.

Sudan concluded a peace agreement in 2020 with significant rebel factions, including those from Darfur.

Although the main fighting has faded over the years, the area is still rife with weaponry, and violent confrontations frequently break out over access to water or pasture.

Daglo claimed on Monday that the October coup had not succeeded in changing Sudan.

He declared, "The whole thing failed, and now Sudan has gotten worse."

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