Sirba () is a town in
West Darfur, Sudan. It lies approximately north of
El Geneina
Geneina (sometimes Al-Junaynah) ( ar, الجنينة, lit. ''the little garden'') is a city in West Darfur, part of dar Masalit region, that joined British Sudan at the end of 1919 through the Gilani agreement signed between the Masalit Sultanate ...
, which is the capital of West Darfur. The town has been subjected to attacks and violence by the
Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied gunmen during the
ongoing conflict in the region.
History
Sirba has been subject to violent seizure and destruction by the
Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied Arab militias multiple times.
During the
2023 Sudan conflict
An armed conflict between rival factions of the military government of Sudan began on 15 April 2023, when clashes broke out in cities, with the fighting concentrated around the capital city of Khartoum and the Darfur region. As of 27 May, at le ...
, Sirba has experienced significant destruction and has been nearly destroyed or burned to the ground multiple times. Satellite data shows the massive fire destruction in the town in late July 2023, leading to tens of thousands of civilians fleeing for their lives.
The attacks involved looting, burning of homes and markets, and targeted violence against the ethnic African communities, particularly the
Eringa tribe
Erenga is an ethnic group of Sudan. In Kulbus province of West Darfur in Sudan the members of this group are at about 30% of the population. The members of this group speak
Sungor language, a Nilo-Saharan language. Their population was estimat ...
.
These attacks have led to significant loss of life, with hundreds of residents killed and thousands injured or displaced, including many who fled to
Chad
Chad (; ar, تشاد , ; french: Tchad, ), officially the Republic of Chad, '; ) is a landlocked country at the crossroads of North and Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic ...
seeking safety.
has called for robust measures to address the ongoing atrocities, urging the United States to take action at the UN Security Council to protect civilians and hold those responsible for the violence accountable.
The
United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) has expressed grave concern over the targeting of civilians and public facilities by the RSF and allied militias, and the need for urgent action to ensure the safety and protection of civilians in Darfur.
The
conflict in Darfur has been ongoing for many years, and there have been efforts to resolve the violence through peace talks, but the situation remains volatile. The recent escalation of fighting in the region has raised fears of a new wave of ethnic violence, as civilians, including students and higher education staff, are increasingly caught up in the conflict.
The attacks have also prompted the withdrawal of humanitarian workers due to security concerns, leaving refugees and displaced people in precarious conditions.
References
{{Reflist
Populated places in West Darfur