Sudan’s military administration has ordered two high-ranking officials from the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to depart the nation within 72 hours. This move comes at a critical juncture, as the country grapples with widespread famine exacerbated by the ongoing civil war that began in April 2023. The WFP confirmed that its Sudan directors were declared ‘personae non grata’ without any official explanation.
The expulsions occur just days after the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group captured the crucial city of el-Fasher in Darfur, following an 18-month siege that notably included a food blockade. The WFP emphasized that these expulsions are particularly concerning given the current circumstances, with over 24 million people facing severe food insecurity across Sudan.
While the military government has not officially stated a reason for these expulsions, it has previously voiced accusations against aid organizations, alleging violations of local laws and the dissemination of inaccurate information regarding famine conditions. The government, however, has also stated that these actions will not impede its cooperation with the WFP, according to state news agency Suna.
The WFP is currently engaged in discussions with Sudanese authorities to address and resolve this situation.
The conflict, which started two and a half years ago between the Sudanese army and the RSF, has seen a significant escalation with the RSF’s recent seizure of el-Fasher. There are profound fears for the safety of the approximately 250,000 residents in the city, many belonging to non-Arab communities. Reports of severe human rights abuses, including mass killings, have surfaced since the city’s fall.
Eyewitness accounts describe dire conditions, with looting and indiscriminate shooting occurring on roads, affecting all age groups. Escapees have spoken of the gratitude they feel for reaching safer areas, even after enduring perilous journeys.
The RSF and allied militias in Darfur have faced accusations of targeting non-Arab ethnic groups, allegations that the RSF has consistently denied.
Recent reports from local activist groups and supported by satellite imagery analysis suggest that wounded individuals receiving medical treatment in el-Fasher’s Saudi Hospital may have been executed, and bodies discovered within the hospital grounds. International bodies like the European Union and the African Union have voiced significant concern, with locals drawing parallels between the current situation and the region’s past humanitarian disasters, particularly the Darfur conflict from 2003 to 2020, which saw the rise of the Janjaweed militia, the precursor to the RSF.