The Facts
Residents of the Sudanese city of Omdurman have alleged widespread looting by soldiers in parts of the city under army control.
Nearly 2M people had fled the capital city of Khartoum and the nearby cities of Omdurman and Bahri since April when conflict broke out between the Sudanese army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.
The Spin
Narrative A
The low salaries of the Sudanese army are forcing the soldiers to turn to looting to make ends meet in a brutal civil conflict. The violence and economic crisis in the country has made crime necessary for many. This is another reason why conflict resolution must proceed immediately.
Narrative B
The looting and humiliation of impoverished civilians is unacceptable. This behavior, especially from the army, which is meant to maintain law and order in the cities without civilian law enforcement, must be held to full account. The Sudanese government is responsible for these actions, even in a time of turbulent civil conflict.
