During the month of November, the five Darfur states have witnessed a state of comprehensive collapse in security and basic services, manifested in the escalation of systematic violations, the widening spread of communal violence, and the expansion of the Rapid Support Forces’ authority at the expense of collapsed state institutions. The facts documented by the Network through field reports reveal an interconnected chain of events that exposes a unified pattern in the management of violence, exploitation of resources, and repression of civilians.
North Darfur State is experiencing an extremely critical humanitarian and security situation. Since late October, the Rapid Support Forces have tightened full control over vast areas of the state and over key routes, imposing a suffocating siege that has isolated local communities and obstructed the delivery of humanitarian assistance. Widespread violations have emerged, including forced displacement, arson, looting, and the targeting of civilians in villages and outskirts. The state is currently considered one of the most fragile areas in the region, amid a near-total collapse of basic services and the worsening conditions of displaced populations.
In South Darfur State, the situation is characterized by growing security breakdown and the proliferation of weapons, alongside the emergence of conflicts between farmers and pastoralists and the transformation of resource-related disputes into bloody confrontations. The state has also seen an increase in patterns of looting and armed robbery, in addition to an expanding system of extortion practiced by elements of the Rapid Support Forces against civilians. This has led to the fragmentation of the social fabric and heightened fears among the population.
East Darfur State, meanwhile, represents a prominent axis in the dynamics of the conflict, particularly in Ed Daein and the localities of Assalaya and Bahr Al-Arab. Violations by the Rapid Support Forces’ intelligence apparatus have spread, including arbitrary detention, the imposition of fines, death threats, and the targeting of families based on the affiliations of their relatives.
Organized incidents of armed looting have also emerged, alongside clashes between farmers and pastoralists following peace coexistence conferences, reflecting the contradiction between official rhetoric and the deteriorating security reality.
As for Central Darfur State, despite the lack of detailed direct information, the general security context across Darfur states and the overlap of military operations, looting, and displacement indicate that Central Darfur is not an exception to the regional collapse. Its trade routes and agricultural areas are considered extensions of the operational scope of mobile armed groups, while residents are affected by service shortages, restrictions on movement, and the deterioration of humanitarian conditions. General indicators point to escalating tribal tensions and resource-related disputes, coupled with weak local mediation mechanisms.
West Darfur State is considered historically one of the most fragile states. Despite the absence of direct details within the available information, the state is experiencing a natural extension of the same patterns: security disintegration, the expansion of militia influence, the incapacity of local authorities, and the deterioration of the civilian protection environment. It is likely that large-scale displacement will continue, along with the activity of armed groups exploiting the regional chaos since the collapse of the state in the region.