During October 2025, the five states of the Darfur region witnessed a significant escalation
in violations against civilians and their impact on the humanitarian and security situation,
particularly a>ecting the most vulnerable groups, including women, children, and the
elderly. In West Darfur State, the most intense incidents were concentrated in the localities
of Geneina, Foro Baranga, Habila, Beida, and Kreinik, with limited displacement in northern
areas following deadly tribal clashes in Kornoy, which spread to the regions of Serba, Kulbus,
Jebel Moon, and reached as far as the Chadian town of Tina. The Sudan Rights Watch
Network observed a heavy presence of joint forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) along
the border, accompanied by repeated threats to civilian safety, particularly during
mobilization and military movements north of Geneina and El Fasher.
In mid-October, the Network recorded a series of drone attacks targeting the Government
Secretariat and administrative o>ices in Geneina, resulting in civilian deaths and injuries,
including wounds sustained by the head of the RSF-a>iliated civil administration, Karshoum.
In addition, there were arbitrary arrests, phone searches, and harassment of citizens,
including sta> from international organizations, reflecting restrictions on freedom of
expression and humanitarian work.
The economic and social situation deteriorated severely; essential services such as the only
oxygen plant came to a halt, schools faced shortages of equipment and learning facilities,
and residents in South Darfur struggled to find housing due to high rents after the return of
original property owners. The informal trade, especially in fuel, posed growing risks to
civilians, with a lack of safety measures leading to deadly incidents — most notably, a
gasoline warehouse explosion in Nyala.
Meanwhile, civil society continues to work to fill part of the humanitarian and social gaps
through various initiatives, including the distribution of food baskets, health awareness
campaigns, peaceful coexistence programs, and support for education and mental health.
Nevertheless, these initiatives face serious security challenges, with occasionally direct
targeting of active organizations and community leaders.
The state experienced relative stability during the month; however, kidnappings, looting, and
armed assaults persisted, along with armed celebrations by RSF forces that fired live bullets
into the air, injuring civilians. Forced displacement continued in and around El Fasher, as
thousands of civilians arrived at displacement camps in northern El Fasher, particularly in
Tawila, under catastrophic humanitarian conditions marked by shortages of food, water, and
medical services, as well as cases of sexual and physical violence, field executions, looting
and destruction of property, and forced arrests.
These violations constitute a blatant breach of Sudanese laws, the four Geneva
Conventions, their Additional Protocols, the Rome Statute of the International Criminal
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Court, and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, among others. They also
highlight the urgent need to activate accountability mechanisms, protect civilians, and
provide immediate assistance to the displaced and a>ected populations, including
programs in nutrition, health, education, and psychosocial support.
Accordingly, the situation in the Darfur region during October 2025 reveals a dangerous
escalation in security fragility, human rights violations, and worsening humanitarian crises,
with direct consequences for the stability of civil society and its ability to provide essential
services. This calls for urgent and coordinated interventions at the security, humanitarian,
and legal levels.