Statement on the situation in Sudan - Update January 2024 Around 7.3 million people have been displaced by the fighting between the Sudanese military (SAF) and the RSF militia since April 2023 - both within Sudan and across the country's borders (https://reports.unocha.org/en/country/sudan/ 5 January 2024). Since mid-December, RSF fighters have also been advancing in the states of El-Gezira, White Nile State and Sennar State, starting with the capture of Sudan's second largest city, Wad Madani in El-Gezira State (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/18/rsf-paramilitary-seizes-control-of-wad-madani-sudans-second-city). These three states are home to a large number of internally displaced people living in extremely difficult conditions. Now that the presence of the militia means that relative safety from violence is no longer guaranteed, especially for women, many people see no possibility of remaining there. According to estimates, half a million people have since fled from Wad Madani alone - presumably including a large number of repeatedly displaced families and individuals. (https://reports.unocha.org/en/country/sudan/ 5 January 2024) However, the largest percentage of internally displaced persons in Sudan is still in the west of the country, in the states of South Darfur and East Darfur. People are being displaced within the five states of Darfur due to the ongoing violence and atrocities, which recently reached a new peak in November with ethnically motivated killings of hundreds of civilians. https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/photo-feature/2023/12/20/snapshots-how-sudans-conflict-impacting-darfur The city of Nyala, South Darfur, was already captured by the RSF in October. In December, the SAF repeatedly and mercilessly bombed residential neighbourhoods there https://sudantribune.com/article280364/ The state of El-Gezira, which is now controlled by the RSF, is in the centre of the country and has essential economic resources and infrastructure. The RSF General Mohamed Hamdan Daglo (Hemedti) now apparently has sufficient backing to present himself as head of state. Around the turn of the year, he was received by several presidents during his visits to Ethiopia, Djibouti, Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda. https://www.arabnews.com/node/2436431/world At the same time, the well-known representatives of civilian politics, who recently joined forces as the "Coordination of Civilian Democratic Forces" (Taqaddum), represented by Abdalla Hamdok - former president of the transitional government - sought a ceasefire at the New Year: On 1 January 2024, Abdalla Hamdok and Hemedti signed a joint declaration in Addis Ababa. Hemedti had recently agreed to an unconditional ceasefire with the Sudanese military - knowing that the military will not accept an unconditional ceasefire to date. Negotiations with the Sudanese military leadership are still pending. https://sudantribune.com/article280927/ Previous reports: - July 2023 - November 2023 More about our cooperation with the women from our partner organisation Bana as part of the Civil Peace Service