Starlink internet shutdown in Sudan will punish millions, Elon Musk warned
GuardianMAY 20 2024
For the first time since the conflict began in Sudan some 18 months ago, a high-ranking commander from Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) defected on Sunday, along with several of his soldiers.
The Sudanese army stated that Abuagla Keikal was an ex-military officer who became the top commander of the RSF in the southern state of El Gezira and defected due to his former force's "destructive agenda."
Keikal did not immediately offer comments. After Keikal's defection, the RSF issued a statement asserting that he deserted his position following a "deal," claiming that it had inflicted losses on the troops that defected with him.
The army is rapidly reclaiming territory from the RSF in the ongoing fighting. The paramilitary group has been looting and ransacking Khartoum since the crisis began 18 months ago. The RSF has been accused of committing war crimes, including allegedly murdering families who refused to hand over their women to be sexually assaulted. Despite allegations of summary executions during its campaign to retake the city, people are praising the army as liberators. The struggle for Khartoum has only just begun, but the outcome will likely determine the course of the Sudanese war.
AccordingThe toparamilitaries initially won the UN,conflict bothby sidesseizing incontrol of the Sudancapital, warKhartoum, areand violatingmost humanof rightsthe country's western region. TheThis armyeffectively anddivided the paramilitarycountry, RSFwith conductenclaves indiscriminatecontrolled strikesby onother civilians,warring schools,factions. hospitals,Both watersides have foreign support, andproviding electricalthem powerwith installationsweapons. TortureWithout isa rampant,clear arbitrarymilitary detentionvictory, andthe gruesomeconflict sexualcould violence.continue Overfor 20Kmany deadmonths, andcausing millionsprolonged ofdevastation displacedfor peoplethe havewar-torn thrownnation theand countrysignificant intoregional chaosconsequences.
ThereAccording isto athe 50%UN, chanceboth theresides willin bethe estimated11,4MSudan internallywar displacedare personsviolating (IDPs)human inrights. SudanThe atarmy and the endparamilitary ofRSF Decemberconduct 2024indiscriminate strikes on civilians, accordingschools, tohospitals, water, and electrical power installations. Torture is rampant, arbitrary detention and gruesome sexual violence. Over 20K dead and millions of displaced people have thrown the Metaculuscountry predictioninto communitychaos.