Sudan Civilian Killings Double Amid Civil War

The United Nations rights chief, Volker Türk, reported a more than doubling of civilian killings in Sudan's civil war in 2025 compared to the previous year, with thousands more missing or unidentified. The conflict, ongoing since April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, has displaced 11 million people and triggered a severe humanitarian crisis. Türk condemned the 'heinous and ruthless' brutalities, including sexual violence, summary executions, and arbitrary detentions, blaming both sides for using explosive weapons and advanced drones in densely populated areas. The Rapid Support Forces are particularly highlighted for 'carnage' in the Zamzam displacement camp and El-Fasher, with actions in El-Fasher described as war crimes and potentially genocide. Foreign sponsors, including the United Arab Emirates (accused of arming the Rapid Support Forces), Egypt, Iran, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia (backing Abdel Fattah al-Burhan), are implicated in funding the 'high-tech' conflict. Despite calls for a humanitarian truce and ceasefire proposals from the United States and Saudi Arabia, efforts have repeatedly collapsed, with Abdel Fattah al-Burhan vowing to fight 'until the end'. Famine conditions have been declared in North Darfur and South Kordofan.