Sudan: Attacks against UN personnel and assets occur in Darfur, April 15-16

Event

The United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission (UNITAMS) has indicated that three World Food Programme (WFP) employees were killed in Kabkabiya, North Darfur, on 15 April. The circumstances surrounding their deaths are unclear but coincided with ongoing clashes between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and regular Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). UNITAMS has also noted additional violence, including looting, against UN assets across Darfur since the outbreak of hostilities.

Context

The incidents underline the elevated threat level in Sudan following the outbreak of hostilities on April 15. Further incidents, including targeted attacks, opportunistic criminal activity, and possibly kidnappings, against foreign and local organizations could occur. The security environment remains highly unstable, particularly in Darfur.

Advice

Shelter in place until the situation becomes clearer. Maintain contact with your diplomatic representation. Persons planning to travel to Sudan should consider deferring travel until the situation becomes clearer. Avoid concentrations of security personnel. Avoid all protests. Liaise with trusted contacts for further information. Reconfirm all flights if scheduled to fly to, from, or via Sudan in the coming days. Reconfirm the status of road routes before traveling. Travel with identification. Conserve battery power on essential equipment, such as mobile phones. Conserve basic supplies, including food and water.